As the Gaels were expecting an updraft after their match against Albany, a close 1-0 loss, the team could not fulfill its goals against its last two opponents.

Why is there no upcoming success leaping into view?

Does the high number of inexperienced newcomers hold the team back, or is the communication in the team inefficient?

These are the questions Iona’s community is asking itself after the last two games.

Iona’s offense had to go through a tough scoring period in their last two games. After a scoreless tie against the Seton Hall Pirates, the Gaels experienced a 2-1 defeat in a very difficult match against the Columbia Lions.

The players, however, are neither weak nor showing any pain. As strong as before, they fight until the end of each 90 minute game.

During their match against Seton Hall, the Gaels played into double overtime. Both teams combined for 20 shots and 11 shots on goal.

Although Iona exceeded the Pirates 5-0  in shots in the first overtime period, it ended in a tie.

Junior Leah Taylor and freshman Melissa Frederick led the Gaels throughout the game, and showed the spectators a strong offense.

This game seemed to be a recovery from the team’s previous loss against Albany, but the Gaels’ next game against Columbia set them back.

In the first half, the Lions scored the first goal in the 24th minute.

Nevertheless Frederick fought back, scoring in the 58th minute and keeping the teams in a tie until the 90th minute.

 In the end, Columbia’s junior Lexi Nichols scored the victorious goal with some luck, as the Gaels had a much stronger defense proven by the fact that Iona’s sophomore goalkeeper Trista Rivera only had to save one shot, while opposing senior goalkeeper Lillian Klein had four saves.

Overall, it can be said that Iona’s women’s soccer team is still strong as the players are representing excellence on an individual level.

They now have to work on their team qualities even harder for the upcoming games.

Iona expects the energetic support they have been receiving to continue as they open up MAAC play at home on Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. against Marist.