LEWISTON, NY – Trimming a four-goal deficit with just under four minutes remaining to just one with a minute left, the Iona Lacrosse team was unable to complete the comeback at Niagara in it's MAAC opener, falling to the Purple Eagles 13-12.
 
Jenna Tolzmann netted four goals on seven shots including Iona's final tally with 1:19 to go. Senior Pamela Giordano scored three goals on seven shots and grabbed two ground balls. Emma Hager and Maureen Murphy each connected with two goals and Katelyn Noschese netted one.
 
Sarah Strange and Gabriella Di Domizio were forces on the defensive end with Strange forcing five caused turnovers and Di Domizio causing four. Shannon McCaffrey made six saves in the contest.
 
Niagara started off hot out of the gate, scoring the game's first five goals over the first 21 minutes. Tolzmann netted Iona's first goal with 8:19 remaining in the first half, but Niagara regained a five-goal lead five minutes later. After Giordano scored her 21^st goal of the season, Niagara went back up by five with 1:40 remaining in the half. Tolzmann attempted Iona's lone shot in the final minute as the Gaels went into the break down 7-2.
 
Two minutes into the second half, Hager and Giordano each netted a goal within 14 seconds of each other to trim the deficit to three. The Gaels mustered two shots over the next five minutes but were unable to find the back of the net before Niagara struck to go up 8-4. With 21:27 to play, Murphy connected on her second goal of the season, but Niagara answered three minutes later to regain the four-goal advantage. Niagara notched two more goals over the next five minutes to open up an 11-5 lead with 13:38 to play.
 
Iona stormed back over the next four minutes, receiving goals from Hager, Murphy and Tolzmann. After the Purple Eagles scored with 8:29 remaining, Giordano pulled the Gaels back within three with 6:05 to play. Niagara answered again with 3:41 to play before the Gaels began to rally.
 
Tolzmann notched her third goal of the game with 2:45 to go and was followed by Noschese's 14^th of the season. Tolzmann cut the Iona deficit to one with 1:19 to play and controlled the following draw, but turned the ball over shortly thereafter as the Gaels did not regain control.

The Gaels out-shot the Purple Eagles 27-26 and controlled 10-of-27 draws. Iona forced 19 turnovers and grabbed 23 ground balls compared to 17 by Niagara.
 
The Maroon & Gold returns to Mazzella Field on Friday to take on defending MAAC Champions Canisius at 1:00 PM.