MIAMI, FLORIDA — Siena's offense came alive in the second half Wednesday night, overwhelming Iona 4-0 in a lopsided matchup that saw the visiting Saints capitalize on defensive lapses and clinical finishing. Playing on the road, Siena controlled possession throughout and converted chances when it mattered most, extending their winning streak to four matches. The result dropped Iona to 6-10-3 on the season.
The scoring began early in the second half when Catherine Rogers found the back of the net in the 52nd minute, breaking through a stagnant first 45 minutes. Micaiah Croce had opened the scoring in the 19th minute with an assist from Briana Neary and Abby Daly, but Iona's defense tightened temporarily. Neary added her own goal in the 24th minute off a Cate Flanagan setup, and Daly capped a dominant stretch with a 34th-minute finish assisted by Jess Knaub and Maya Costa. Rogers' second-half strike put the match firmly out of reach.
Siena's first half was methodical rather than explosive. The Saints generated chances through Cate Flanagan and Iona Snape but couldn't find the net until Croce's breakthrough. Iona, meanwhile, struggled to generate meaningful attacking opportunities, with Zaheira Hegazi's shot in the 11th minute representing one of their few genuine chances. The home side's defensive shape deteriorated as the half progressed, allowing Siena to build momentum heading into the break.
After halftime, Siena came out with renewed purpose. Rogers' early goal set the tone for a dominant 45 minutes where the Saints controlled the tempo and limited Iona's counterattacking options. Catherine Rogers tested Iona's goalkeeper repeatedly, while Cate Flanagan continued to create space in the midfield. Iona made wholesale substitutions at the break—replacing seven players—in an attempt to spark their offense, but the changes failed to generate the attacking thrust needed to trouble Siena's defense.
Siena's defense, anchored by solid positioning and distribution, kept Iona at arm's length throughout. The Saints recorded four saves while allowing just four shots on goal from their hosts. Iona's best chance came late when Dolene Smith's shot was blocked, but by that point the outcome was never in doubt. Siena's back line, despite some defensive substitutions of their own, maintained discipline and prevented any late-match heroics.
The statistics told the story of a lopsided affair. Siena outshot Iona 14-6 overall and 8-4 on target, controlling the game's rhythm with five corner kicks to Iona's four. Neither team committed a yellow card, keeping the match relatively clean despite the wide margin of victory. Siena's efficiency in front of goal—converting four of their eight shots on target—proved the decisive factor.
Briana Neary and Catherine Rogers were the standout performers for Siena, combining for two goals and multiple assists. Neary's movement in the attacking third created constant problems for Iona's backline, while Rogers' positioning and finishing in the second half proved clinical. Cate Flanagan orchestrated much of Siena's attacking play from midfield, setting up multiple chances throughout the match.
The victory improves Siena to 9-4-6 on the season, maintaining their strong form with a fourth consecutive win. The Saints' offensive firepower and defensive solidity have made them a formidable opponent in their conference. For Iona, the loss marks their second straight defeat and raises questions about their ability to compete at this level heading into the final stretch of their schedule.
Siena returns to action with momentum on their side, while Iona will look to regroup and find their footing before their next fixture. The Saints' balanced attack and defensive organization suggest they'll remain competitive down the stretch, while the Gaels face an uphill battle to salvage their season.