NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College women's lacrosse team opened the home portion of the 2017 schedule with a convincing 15-6 non-conference victory against visiting Central Connecticut State University this afternoon.
Reigning MAAC Player of the Week Pamela Giordano led the scoring effort for the Gaels (2-1) with five tallies to up her season total to 11 throughout three games. Meanwhile, Christine Gironda put together a full line of three goals, an assist, four groundballs, two draw controls and two caused turnovers. Jenna Tolzmann paced the group with seven draw controls to go with a pair of goals while Brianne Towey caused three turnovers along with two groundballs.
Giordano and Gironda scored back-to-back during the seventh minute of play to push the Maroon & Gold ahead 2-0 before Carson Adelberger scored for the Blue Devils (0-2). For the next 21 minutes of action, Iona kept the visitors off the scoreboard while totaling four strikes from four different individuals to push the margin to 5-1.
Each team added a goal before in the final two minutes of the first half to lock in a 7-2 halftime lead for the Gaels. Iona outshot Central Connecticut 26-8 in the opening 30 minutes while also controlling an 8-2 advantage in draw controls. Jackie Branthover kept the halftime margin at five goals by making 14 saves in the first half.
The Maroon & Gold extended the lead to 9-2 before Central Connecticut scored three of the next four goals to come within 10-5 with 16:32 remaining. However, Iona secured the victory by scoring five of the next six tallies with five different players scoring in that run that included Giordano's fifth of the game. Gironda scored her third goal of the game, and season, to cap off the scoring at 15-6.
The Blue Devils managed to control a 15-14 shot advantage in the second half, however, Iona finished the game with a 40-23 margin. The Gaels also controlled ground balls, 16-9, and draw controls, 15-7.
Shannon McCaffrey earned her first collegiate victory behind nine saves. Branthover finished the contests with 19 saves for the Blue Devils.
Iona plays the second of three straight home games by hosting Lehigh on Saturday a 1:00 pm non-conference tilt.
