NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College women's lacrosse team dropped its 2014 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener to Canisius 19-12 at Mazzella Field. Sophomore Mary Kate McCormick and freshman Erin Pugh each had three goals in the loss.

A high-scoring first half saw the Maroon & Gold trail 10-8. McCormick got the Gaels (1-7, 0-1 MAAC) on the board on the game's first possession with her seventh tally of the season. The Golden Griffins (5-4, 1-0 MAAC) scored five of the next six goals to run out to a 5-2 advantage with 17:18 to play. Junior Bernadette Gennaro cut the deficit to 5-3 just over a minute later with her lone goal of the contest. Canisius netted four of the next five goals in the first half, extending its run to 9-3 and earning a five goal advantage with 11:02 left. Iona rallied with a 4-1 run of their own as Pugh's free position score made the halftime margin with 1:41 left to go.

Early in the second half the Gaels completed the comeback and tied the game at 10-10 with back-to-back goals, 20 seconds apart by McCormick and senior Nicole Brancaccio in the 35th minute of the contest. The Griffs answered with nine straight goals before junior Chandler Borrosh and McCormick netted the final two goals of the contest in the final minute of play.

Pugh added an assist to her team-best four points. The Maroon & Gold got single goals from Brancaccio, Gennaro, Borrosh, junior Meghan Testoni, junior Casey Palmer, and senior Nina Veneziale. Senior netminder Maria Ortiz had seven saves in the loss.

Canisius was led by Tori Quinn's five goals and three assists. Maria Kotas and Taylor Giglio each scored four times and dished out an assist. Goalie Kayla Scully stopped 12 Gael attempts.

Iona held a 32-29 shot advantage but was just 3-for-12 on free position attempts.

The Gaels continue MAAC play Wednesday (Apr. 2) at home against Fairfield with a 3:00 pm first draw.