The Iona College women’s soccer team has made a promising start to the new campaign currently holding a split 4-4 record, with a 2-1 record at home.   

The Gaels have shown improvement since the delayed 2020 season which was played in the spring of 2021.They managed just one win in the seven games that they played.  

One particular area the Gaels have shown sizable improvement is in the number of goals they have scored. After scoring only four goals in seven matches in the spring, the Gaels have already scored 14 goals in just eight matches so far in the 2021 season.  

The Gaels have been led by sophomore Graceann Murphy, sophomore Emily Drake and freshmen Kedarjah Lewis, who all have three goals apiece.  

This gives a much-needed scoring boost to the Gaels and takes some of the pressure off of senior forward Faith Preziosi, who has been the focal point of the team’s offense in recent years. Preziosi has notched two goals so far this year. 

The Gaels have also converted their chances much better this season. The team’s shot conversion rate was just 0.080 in the spring, whereas this season their current shot conversion rate is much higher at 0.186, showing that they are scoring more frequently from the shots they take.  

The number of goals that have been assisted on this season also shows how the Gaels are playing much more as a team. In the spring of 2021, out of the four goals the Gaels scored none were assisted by a teammate. So far this season 11 out of the 12 goals they have scored were set up by a teammate.  

Sophomore Graceann Murphy leads the Gaels in assists with six already for the season. Senior Faith Preziosi has also contributed by setting up her teammates with two assists on the season so far.  

The Gaels have also had a more solid defense so far in the 2021 season. Iona did not manage to keep any clean sheets last year, whereas senior goalkeeper Emma Havrilla and the rest of the defense have already collected two this season.  

Head coach Todd Plourde will be hoping that his side can continue to improve in the upcoming matches and can potentially go on a Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament run after reaching the quarterfinals in the delayed 2020 season in the spring.  

MAAC play began for the Gaels with a 2-1 defeat away at Monmouth in overtime on Sept. 18. The Gaels’ next match will be at the Demske Sports Complex on Sept. 25 against Canisius.