After a strong regular season finish, the Iona College women’s soccer team took on the Siena College Saints in the quarterfinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

From the opening whistle Iona was on the attack. Their first opportunity to strike came within the first three minutes of the game, when senior Katie Higgins’ shot hit off the crossbar.

The Gaels ended up scoring first in the 36th minute of the game. Senior forward and Iona’s leading scorer, Nicole Paulucci, put the Gaels ahead 1-0, netting her fourth goal of the season. Juniors Melissa Frederick and Safi Ayinde assisted the goal.

“The build up to this goal was what allowed me to finish my opportunity,” Paulucci said. “It was a perfect pass from Freddy that gave me the chance to score the goal.”

In the second half, the Siena Saints came out hungry for a comeback. In the 64th minute, senior Brittany Pfaff scored the equalizer. Pfaff netted her MAAC-leading 14th goal of the year and has compiled a MAAC high of 34 points.

Less than four minutes later, the Saints scored what would be the game winning goal.

Siena junior Tara Sobierajski bent a free-kick around Iona’s wall from 23 yards out past senior goal keeper Trista Rivera, to go ahead 2-1.

The Saints’ victory earned them a spot in the MAAC Championship semi-finals against the No.2 seed Fairfield Stags.

“The game last Friday was definitely a tough one,” Paulucci said. “We dominated the first half against a very good opponent but unfortunately came up short in the second half.”

Though the Gaels lost the game, all of the players kept their heads held high knowing that they had a strong season overall. It was harder for the senior Gaels to take in the loss, but they knew that they all played the best they possibly could.

“Overall I feel the team played great soccer this year,” senior captain Sofia Sanchez said. “I’ve been a part of the Iona women’s soccer team for four years and I can definitely say that this year we played the best soccer. We used each game as a learning experience and grew from every performance.”

The Gaels surprised many people this season. The women’s soccer team was predicted to finish seventh in the conference, and they silenced the critics by finishing third. The women had an overall record of 7-8-4, and a MAAC record of 6-2-2. The Maroon & Gold dominated at home with a 5-1-2 record. However, they struggled on the road going 2-6-2.

“There are an endless amount of memories I have made with these girls and I can truly call them my family,” Paulucci said. “On and off the field the memories will stick with me forever.”

After the ladies get a chance to wind down physically and mentally, they will start preparing for next season right away. The seniors leave with a lot of confidence for the future Gaels, and they know they will each work extremely hard during the off-season.

“You can never be too prepared, therefore, we will constantly train personally as a team,” said sophomore Alex Chinich. “We are not sure when the next season exactly starts, but we will start training again in two weeks.”

Although the seniors will not be with the team next year, they have influenced the underclassman and have taught them what it takes to win.

“Each one of the seniors had an impact on me as an underclassmen,” Chinich said. “Each senior has given me the tools to succeed on this incredible team. Their hard work and dedication to the team and its players is something I will continue to embody as an upperclassmen next year.”