NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona Lacrosse program lost a heartbreaker at Mazzella Field on Wednesday afternoon, falling to the Quinnipiac Bobcats 14-13. The Bobcats were able to equalize the game in the final seconds and found the back of the net 35 seconds into overtime to top the Gaels.
On the offensive end, junior Jenna Tolzmann connected for a team-high four goals, followed by senior Erin Pugh (3), junior Pamela Giordano (2) and one each by senior Grace Celona, freshman Delaney Davidson and junior Kaitlyn Becker. Freshman Samantha Tyo went the distance in goal, making nine saves.
Quinnipiac was propelled by a 5-0 run early and scored five of the game's final six goals after the Maroon & Gold scored eight unanswered to win in extra time.
Iona controlled 11 out of 28 draws, grabbed 16 of 28 ground balls, and were sucessful on 13 ouf of 16 clear attempts. The Gaels outshot the Bobcats 37-29.
Davidson connected with the game's first goal just 1:16 into the contest. After the Bobcats answered six minutes later, Tolzmann scored her first with 22:19 remaining to put the Gaels back ahead. Quinnipiac scored the next five over a six minute span, putting Iona in a 6-2 hole with 15:57 left in the first half. From there, Tolzmann and Giordano each found the back of the net to cut the deficit to two, but the Bobcats answered with three more as the scoreboard read 9-4 in favor of the opposition.
Iona then went on a tear scoring the final six goals in the half. Pugh struck on a free position shot followed by another unassisted taly just over one minute later. Giordano scored on a free position before Pugh found Miller in front to cut the deficit to one, 9-8. With under a minute left in the frame, Celona took it herself to knot the score, and then found Tolzmann open with room as she found the back of the net, giving Iona an improbably 10-9 lead after 30 minutes.
The Maroon & Gold kept the momentum going in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring two goals in the first five minutes. Celona scored her third of the game and was followed by Tolzmann to open up the Gaels' largest lead, 12-9. The Bobcats stopped the Iona run with their first tally in over 21 minutes to cut the Iona lead to a pair. Quinnipiac were within one after a goal with 9:35 remaining and tied the score just 45 ticks later.
Both squads found little room in the next five minutes before Pugh put the Gaels ahead with 4:37 left in regulation. Iona was unable to convert on a late shot attempt and were unable to hold the Bobcats off the scoresheet late, conceding the game-tying goal with 37 seconds remaining. The game needed extra time as the two squads were knotted at 13 after 60 minutes of play.
Iona won the opening draw but gave it back to Quinnipiac who converted on the game-winning strike 35 seconds into overtime.
The Maroon & Gold return to action on Saturday in Loudonville, NY to take on Siena at 12:00 PM.
