NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Sophomore Michelle Emery’s (Colorado Springs, Colo.) first career goal proved to be the game winner as the Niagara women’s soccer team defeated Iona, 2-1, on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Niagara Field. With the win, Niagara improves to 6-4 on the season, while Iona falls to 2-10.

"I thought our subs gave us the lift we needed and propelled us to the win," head coach Peter Veltri said. "I think the victory was a team victory because all 18 players contributed to the win."

Emery, who came on as a sub in the first half and started the second, was a spark on offense. Her goal at the 51:24 mark was a thing of beauty, as the midfielder ran at the Gael’s defense and unloaded a shot from just inside the penalty box. Her left-footed strike dipped under the crossbar and into the upper left corner of the net, giving Niagara its third-straight win.

In its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener, Niagara found itself down a goal nine minutes into the match when the ball bounced over a Niagara defender and Iona’s Carol Denis won the chase for the loose ball. Denis got her foot on it first and her shot was just out of the reach of NU’s goalkeeper Ashleigh Bowers (Liverpool, N.Y.), who had come out to challenge the shot.

Senior Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.) tied the game at 1-1 at the 28:41 mark. She received a pinpoint cross from junior Aisha Eversley (Mississauga, Ont.), who had entered the game less than a minute earlier. Bisnott received the ball on her chest, brought it under control and coolly slotted it past Iona’s Suzanne Baldissard. The goal gives Bisnott a MAAC-leading eight tallies on the season and 127 points in her career, moving her into third place on Niagara’s all-time charts.

Defensively, Niagara held Iona to just 11 total shots and a season-low two corner kicks. The Purple Eagle goalkeepers again split time between the posts, with Bowers playing the first half and contributing one save, while sophomore Sarah Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) played the second half and made three saves.

Niagara continues MAAC play when it faces Fairfield Sunday at Noon at Niagara Field.