QU Women’s Soccer Fights Off Iona’s Comeback Attempt to Win Fifth Straight, 3-2

Wednesday, October 12

Hamden, Conn.

3:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

9-4-1, 5-2MAAC

Iona

1-11-2, 1-4-1MAAC

Iona

Quinnipiac

QU Women’s Soccer Fights Off Iona’s Comeback Attempt to Win Fifth Straight, 3-2

10/12/2016 6:22:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Quinnipiac Extends Program's Longest Win Streak Since 2007, Remain Unbeaten (7-0) at Home

By: QU Sports Information

HAMDEN, Connecticut – Facing a hungry Iona squad, the Quinnipiac women's soccer team scored the first three goals of the afternoon and then held on late to score a 3-2 win over the Gaels on Wednesday. The Bobcats' fifth straight win gives Quinnipiac an overall record of 9-4-1 and a 5-2 mark in the MAAC while Iona falls to 1-11-2 on the season and 1-4-1 in conference play.

In a matchup that pitted one of the hottest teams in the MAAC against a team in desperate need of a win, Iona gave Quinnipiac everything it could handle in the final stages. Three straight goals to open the scoring proved enough for the Bobcats as Iona cut a three-goal deficit down to one with just under 10 minutes remaining. Against heavy pressure, Quinnipiac's defense was able to do enough to hold on and seal their fifth straight win which stands as their longest win streak since the 2007 season.

Kelly Caruso (Rocky Hill, Connecticut), Nadya Gill (Toronto, Ontario) and Ally Grunstein (Warren, New Jersey) tallied one goal apiece for the Bobcats while Gill added one assist to give her a three-point game. Starting to find her from last season's MAAC Rookie of the Year campaign, Gill extends her goal scoring streak to three straight games while she added one assist to give her a team-leading 17 points (seven goals, three assists) on the season and seven in the last three games.

The MAAC's second-highest scoring offense got the party started with a goal in the sixth minute of play as Caruso came on the finishing end of a great run up the far sideline from Gill. Receiving the ball on the Bobcats' defensive end, Gill carried past several Iona defenders deep into the Gaels' defending end. Right before touching the end line, she fired a cross to the far post where Caruso was waiting. One touch was all the senior needed as she buried her third goal of the season and seventh of her career.

The next 50+ minutes of play was largely uneventful for both sides as Iona's defense started to pick up their play and give their offense a chance to get going. Even with the momentum, Iona couldn't hold off Quinnipiac for long as Gill this time came on the finishing end for the Bobcats to make it 2-0. Kylie Lance (Stow, Massachusetts) fired a shot from 20 yards out that deflected off the crossbar right to Gill at the near post as only a slight tap-in was needed to increase the lead.

Just over five minutes later in the 69^th minute, Grunstein added another insurance marker that certainly was needed as it went down as the eventual game-winner. Grunstein's speed created the opportunity as she sprinted up the far end and fired a cross into the box for Katrina Friedman (Syosset, New York). The sophomore forward dove for the pass and managed to flick the ball back out to Grunstein who slammed home her fourth goal of the season.

The Gaels wouldn't go away quietly as Emily Hansen lofted a pass over the top of the Bobcat midfield to a streaking Amber Crispin up the near side. With the Bobcat defense lagging off Crispin, Iona's leading goal scorer fired a low short-side shot on Olivia Myszewski (Elm Grove, Wisconsin) that snuck past the freshman keeper to make it 3-1 in the 71^st minute.

Iona's goal broke up a scoreless streak of 367:15 that stands as the second-longest in program history. Quinnipiac had held their last three opponents scoreless and the streak fell just shy of the program record that came back in the 1999 season where the Bobcats' opposition was held scoreless for four straight games.

Pressure continued to mount for Quinnipiac late as Crispin drew a foul in the box from the Bobcat back line that sent Hansen up to the line for a penalty kick. Taking her time to line up the shot, Hansen made no mistake as Myszewski dove to her right while the shot landed in the opposite corner.

With 8:54 remaining following the Hansen penalty kick, Iona continued to push forward and drew one corner kick and one shot-on-goal for Myszewski to save but the Bobcats were able to hold on late and finish off the 3-2 win.

Myszewski matched her career high with seven saves in the win as she moves to 6-2 on the season in the net for the Bobcats.

Next up is a spotlight showdown as the Bobcats head down to the Jersey Shore where a meeting against the first place Monmouth Hawks on Saturday night at 7 PM.