Box score
NEW ROCHELLE, NY—Iona scored on a rebound of a penalty kick and converted another penalty kick before holding on for a 2-1 women's soccer win over visiting NJIT after Kori Washington pulled the Highlanders within a goal of the lead with 22:50 remaining in Sunday afternoon's contest on Iona's Mazzella Field.
Penalty kicks are rare to the extent that teams often go many games without being awarded or facing even one. It's not even out of the ordinary to go a whole season without seeing a penalty kick.
But NJIT goalkeeper Sadie Mele had to face two pk's in a span of seven and a half minutes early in the second half.
After a scoreless first half, Iona was awarded a penalty kick about four minutes into the second half.
Iona's Stephanie Sommers attempted the first penalty kick and Mele made the stop, but Sommers was able to knock in the rebound for her second goal of the season at 49:01.
The Gaels added what would prove to be a crucial insurance goal on yet another penalty kick and this time Sarah Porco scored on her first try, making it 2-0 at 56:30.
Kori Washington got one of the goals back for the Highlanders on her second tally of the season in the 68th minute. She scored by dribbling around Iona goalkeeper Kelly Mahoney and then putting the ball home.
It was the seventh career goal for the sophomore who is tied for eighth on the all-time NJIT career list just 30 games into her college career. She is already the leader in the program's Division I era, which began in 2006.
NJIT managed two more shots on goal, but could not get one past Mahoney over the last 22:50.
Mahoney finished with five saves—four in the second half and NJIT's Mele made nine saves—seven after the intermission.
The total shots favored Iona, 22-11, as did the shots on goal (11-6). The Highlanders took eight corner kicks to three for the home team.
NJIT will both complete a stretch of six consecutive away contests and open play in the United Soccer Conference when the Highlanders travel to Orangeburg, SC, for a game at conference foe South Carolina State at noon on Sunday, October 5.
