Box Score Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - On a cool autumn evening at Gaelic Park, Manhattan and Iona combined for 78 minutes of scoreless soccer until Iona's Melissa Frederick knocked one home after a scramble in front of the net with 11:55 to play in the second half.
Six minutes later, Manhattan's Erica Modena evened the score with her fourth goal of the season, a beautiful floater into the top right corner of the net. That tied the score at 1-1 and that is how the match finished.
In the first half, Manhattan had the match's best chance in the opening minutes. Eight minutes in, Martine Diamond fired a shot that Iona goalkeeper Trista Rivera stopped. Thirty seconds later, Diamond's continuous effort toward the goal resulted in a corner kick for the Jaspers. Diamond took the corner and the ball eventually found the foot of Aislinn McIlvenny, who fired one just over the crossbar.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Jaspers had another near miss. After a loose ball in the box, Modena bounced a shot that caromed off the left post and was cleared out by the Iona back line.
With 12 minutes left in regulation, Frederick put Iona ahead 1-0 with her first goal of the season. Manhattan then answered back quickly, when Tara Teal crossed one to Modena, who was positioned 15 yards away. Her rising shot nestled just under the crossbar and into the upper right corner of the net to tie the score at 1-1.
The best chance in extra time came in the second overtime. Manhattan created an advantage deep in Iona territory as the ball bounced to the foot of Mary Hijazi, who entered the game at the start of the first overtime. With room to maneuver, Hijazi's shot fired wide of the goal and the match remained at 1-1 as time expired.
Both goalkeepers played all 110 minutes. Rivera made seven saves for the Gaels while Kristen Skonieczny had three saves for the Jaspers.
Manhattan returns to MAAC action on Saturday, September 28 at Niagara for a 1 p.m. contest.
NOTES:
Manhattan is now 3-6-1 and 0-1-1 in the MAAC ... Iona remains unbeaten in the conference at 1-0-1 ... Martine Diamond totaled seven shots, including four on goal ... Manhattan's last tie came nearly two years ago, on Oct. 14, 2011 vs. Fairfield ... the draw is also the first in the history of the series between Manhattan and Iona ... the Jaspers lead the all-time series with Iona 14-8-1.
