NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Katelyn Noschese's game-winning goal with 49 seconds remaining capped off a thrilling back-and-forth contest between Iona and Wagner, with the Gaels prevailing 11-10 in the season-opener.
 
Captains Jenna Tolzmann and Pamela Giordano led the Maroon & Gold with three goals apiece. Noschese tallied two goals on the afternoon and Kaitlyn Becker, Danielle Keenan and Madi Kochanek each scored once in the victory.
 
In goal, Shannon McCaffrey picked up the win, stopping 11 Seahawks shots in the victory.
 
For the game, the Gaels and Seahawks matched 24 shots apiece, but Iona grabbed 21 out of 39 ground balls.
 
The Gaels got off to a hot start with Tolzmann finding the back of the net just 2:10 into the game. Becker matched her a minute later to give Iona an early two-goal lead. After Wagner cut into the deficit, Giordano netted her first tally of the season to give Iona a 4-1 lead with just over 24 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Wagner went on a 4-0 run over the next seven minutes before Tolzmann found the back of the net to pull the Gaels back within one, 5-4. The teams traded shots for the next nine minutes before Giordano knotted the score at five. The Seahawks scored the final two goals of the half, taking a 7-5 lead into the break.
 
Keenan struck first just 45 ticks into the second half and was matched by Tolzmann three minutes later. After Wagner regained the lead a minute later, Noschese found the back of the net to knot the score at 8-8. The Seahawks answered back just 14 seconds later, but Kochanek ripped one past the goalkeeper as the Gaels retied the game.
 
Giordano put Iona back up by one with 11:58 remaining and Wagner answered back four minutes later. With the score tied at 10 and the teams trading timeouts and possessions, Sara Stewart found a cutting Noschese who ripped it just under the crossbar to give Iona it's final lead, 11-10. The Gaels were able to maintain possession for the final minute to clinch the victory.
 
The Gaels will head to Philadelphia, PA to take on Drexel on Sunday at noon.