The Iona College women’s soccer team ended the regular season on a three-game winning streak and clinched the third seed in the 2013 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Soccer Championship.

The Gaels defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles 2-1 on Oct. 26 to earn their spot in Florida for postseason play.

Iona took an early lead after junior forward Melissa Frederick scored her second goal of the season in less than a minute after the opening whistle. The Purple Eagles netted the equalizer in the 32nd minute from senior forward Breanna Catipovic.

Minutes before the half-time whistle, senior captain Sofia Sanchez scored what turned out to be the decisive goal, assisted from junior Safi Ayinde.

On Oct. 23 the Gaels traveled to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to take on the Marist Red Foxes. Minutes into the game, freshman forward Erika Flowers took a shot which hit the post and ended up in the back of the net. Flowers’ goal was her first collegiate goal and was assisted by Frederick.

Flowers continued to be involved in the Gaels offense, finding senior Christina Tesoriero at the top of the box, who blasted a shot into the left corner for her first goal of the year and to give the Gaels a 2-0 lead.

The Maroon & Gold scored an insurance goal in the 73rd minute from Ayinde, assisted by Sanchez. Despite being out shot 15-6, the Gaels were able to capitalize on their opportunities. Senior goalie Trista Rivera had an outstanding game with six saves and earned her fifth shutout of the year.

The Gaels started their three-game winning streak in their final home game of the year against the Siena Saints in addition this was Iona’s homecoming match-up.

Iona dominated the field right away, and had their first shot on goal within the first six minutes of the game, but went wide. The Gaels and Saints were head to head fighting for the win, but the half time whistle blew and there was no score.

The second half started and the Saints came out hungry with two shots on goal against the Gaels three minutes in. Again, no score and the Saints had outshot the Gaels 13-6 by the end of regulation.

The Gaels’ strategy going into half time was to get the job done early on, and that is exactly what they did. With less than five minutes into the first overtime period, Flowers and Sanchez connected on a one-two pass and Sanchez rocketed the game winning shot into the bottom left corner, for her first goal of the season.

“We were possessing throughout the first half, and we kind of knew that we had to finish it early,” Sanchez said in a post game interview on icgaels.com.

“The goal kind of just happened, one of our defenders had it and played it to one of our forwards and then I made a run on the inside just took and touch and shot far post,” she said.

Not only was this game a part of Homecoming weekend, it was also a game just for the seniors.

“It was a very emotional game for all nine of us, and we stuck together through a bunch of adversity,” senior Jackie Gates said in a post game interview on icgaels.com.

“When we started off we came out and played pretty well and I think everyone wanted to play for each other. It was emotional, but I think we put it into the right context.”

Iona finished the regular season with a 7-7-4 overall record and 6-2-2 in the MAAC.

The Maroon & Gold will have an opening round bye and will face the winner of the Siena vs. Saint Peter’s game.