STATEN ISLAND, NY – The Iona College Lacrosse team held off a second half rally to emerge victorious over Wagner in their season-opener, 12-10.
The Gaels were led offensively by junior Pamela Giordano, who put up a game-high six goals. Senior Erin Pugh tallied two goals on six shots and controlled four draws. Seniors Katelyn Noschese, Grace Celona, and juniors Kaitlyn Becker and Emma Hager each found the back of the net once.
In her first collegiate start in net, freshman Samantha Tyo made six saves.
Celona kicked off the 2017 campaign with a goal just 23 seconds into the contest off an assist from Pugh. Giordano buried the first of her four free possession attempts to give Iona an early 2-0 lead. The junior scored her second of the game, before Becker and Noschese followed suit to give the Maroon & Gold a five goal cushion with just over 13 minutes remaining in the half. A Wagner goal with 12:43 remaining was answered by Pugh two minutes later, and Giordano's hat trick goal, assisted by Celona put the Gaels back up by six. After the Seahawks cut into the deficit a few minutes later, Hager beat the buzzer off an assist from junior Jenna Tolzmann with her lone tally of the game to give the Maroon & Gold an 8-2 advantage at the half.
Iona looked to keep the momentum in the second frame, as Giordano scored twice, opening up a 10-3 Gael advantage. The Seahawks stormed back with four goals in an eight minute span, cutting the Iona lead to 10-6. Pugh halted the Wagner run with her second of the game to put the Gaels back up by a handful. Iona's defense struggled to keep Wagner off the scoresheet, allowing four consecutive goals, with the scoreboard reading 11-9 Iona with 9:20 remaining. Celona's feed to Giordano put the Maroon & Gold back up by three before the Seahawks answered right back just 36 ticks later. The Gaels forced four Seahawks turnovers and no shots allowed in the final 6:36 of play to seal the victory.
The Maroon & Gold outshot the Seahawks 28-22 in the contest, and collected 20 ground balls, compared to Wagner's 16.
The Gaels will look to keep rolling on Saturday, as they travel to Worcester, Massachusetts to do battle with Holy Cross.
