Box Score

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's soccer team outshot visiting Iona by a 10-9 margin, including 7-3 in the second half, but a three-goal first half lifted the Gaels a 3-0 victory on Friday evening in the season opener for both teams.

Four players each recorded two shots apiece for LIU, including sophomore Brooke Logel who had two of the better opportunities for the Blackbirds in the match.

Iona opened the scoring in the ninth minute when freshman Charlotte Stuart took advantage of a miscue by the LIU defense at the top of the box and slid a shot just inside the far post to put the score at 1-0.

Stuart struck again in the 33rd minute as she recovered a blocked initial shot by her teammate Melissa Frederick and deposited the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the match. Right before halftime, the Gaels boosted their lead thanks to a penalty kick tally from Erika Flowers with just under seven seconds left in the stanza.

The Blackbirds had a number of chances to pull closer in the second half, including a shot from sophomore Jenn Peters in the 48th minute that was stopped by Iona goalkeeper Lauren Ferris.

In the 71st minute, Logel nearly put LIU on the scoreboard when her blast from 15 yards seemed destined to tuck just underneath the crossbar for a goal. But Ferris was up to the challenge, getting her fingertips on the ball and sending it just over for a corner kick.

Moments later, a nice setup from senior Sydney Ciufo gave Logel a golden opportunity from about 10 yards out, but the sophomore striker once again missed high. The Blackbirds continued to control the game the rest of the way but could not get closer down the stretch.

In addition to the shot advantage, LIU had a comfortable edge in corner kicks, 6-1. Ferris made seven stops to earn the shutout for the Gaels, while her counterpart Jessica Montrose made two saves.

LIU Brooklyn returns to action on Monday, August 25 at Holy Cross. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.