NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Trailing by a pair of goals with just over four minutes remaining, senior Pamela Giordano netted two goals in regulation and delivered the game-winner in overtime as Iona topped UMass Lowell 7-6.
 
On the day, Giordano totaled four goals on eight shots to go along with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Katelyn Noschese scored two goals on four shots and Jenna Tolzmann found the back of the net once.
 
Gabriella Di Domizio caused another four turnovers and Sarah Strange caused a pair. In net, Shannon McCaffrey made eight saves in the contest.
 
On a frigid afternoon in New Rochelle after the field was blanketed with snow a night prior, Noschese opened up the scoring 2:06 into the game. After UMass Lowell knotted the score a minute later, Giordano answered off an assist from Catherine Gallery. The Gaels remained off the scoreboard for the final 22:16 of the first half, while conceding two more goals as the Maroon & Gold found themselves down 3-2 at the half.
 
After a defensive battle for a majority of the first 30 minutes, a Tolzmann goal was sandwiched between two UMass Lowell goals over the first three minutes. The teams both remained off the score sheet for the next 19 minutes before Noschese buried one past goalkeeper Courtney Barrett to cut the Iona deficit to 5-4.
 
The River Hawks scored what at the time seemed like a momentous insurance goal with 4:54 to play before Giordano took control of the game. The veteran netted two goals within the next minute, assisted by Murphy and Gironda respectively.
 
Overtime opened with one of Emma Hager's two draw controls on the day, as Iona took an immediate timeout. Giordano's free position attempt was blocked by the River Hawks defense and the Gaels later turned the ball over. After a UMass Lowell timeout with 1:47 remaining in the overtime period, Stewart forced a turnover to put the play in the hands of Giordano who ripped under the leg of Barrett to complete the comeback victory.
 
As a team, the Maroon & Gold outshot the River Hawks 23 to 20 and controlled 10 out of the 15 draws. Iona were successful on 14-18 clears and connected on 3-10 free position attempts.
 
The Gaels now hit the road for a quartet of road games, beginning with Furman on Sunday at 12:00 PM.