Loudonville, NY – The Iona College Women's Lacrosse team earned it's first win in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, gritting out an 11-9 victory on the road against Siena.
Junior Jenna Tolzmann scored a game-high 4 goals and added an assist. Junior Pamela Giordano added three goals and an assist. Senior Erin Pugh added two goals, and senior Katelyn Noschese and junior Emma Hager each notched one goal. Sophomore netminder Shannon McCaffrey played all 60 minutes, making 15 saves.
As a team, the Gaels outshot the Saints 33-31, and forced 15 turnovers compared to Siena's 13. The Saints held the advantage in ground balls 26-24 and controlled 12 out of 22 draws.
Siena got on the board first just 19 seconds into the game, but the Maroon & Gold tallied the next four over a four-minute span. Giordano found Tolzmann open in front of the net to knot the score at one, followed by Giordano's own tally. Tolzmann connected when the Gaels were a man up, and then at even strength to give Iona a 4-1 lead.
After the Saints cut the deficit to a pair, Pugh scored off a feed from Tolzmann and was followed by Tolzmann's fourth of the game with 10:56 remaining in the first half. The Maroon & Gold were held off the score sheet and conceded two goals in the final eight minutes, taking a 6-4 lead into the half.
Iona found the scoreboard first in the second half as Pugh found Giordano for her second tally of the game. After the Saints answered back, Pugh connected for her second off a feed from Noschese. Siena cut into the Iona lead with two goals in a three minute span, as the Gaels clung an 8-7 advantage with 15:37 remaining in regulation.
The Gaels pulled back ahead with a pair of goals from Noschese and Giordano, opening up a 10-7 lead with nine minutes to play. Siena tried to mount a comeback, scoring the next two goals, giving Iona a slim 10-9 lead with just under four minutes to go. With 3:03 to go, junior Kaitlyn Becker found Hager who buried her second goal of the season giving Iona a two-goal lead they would not relinquish.
Iona is back in action on Wednesday to take on the Jaspers of Manhattan College with the opening draw scheduled for 7:00 PM.
