NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona women's lacrosse program brought both the defense and offense at the home opener against Central Connecticut State, winning 20-7. 11 different Gaels found the back of the net and Sofia Votto picked up her second win in a row. Iona improves to 2-1 on the season.       

GAME SUMMARY

The Maroon and Gold were led on offense by junior Emily Stewart and senior Katherine Meyer, both scoring hat tricks in the victory. Seniors Leah Marshall, Emma Rippon, and Nora Carpenter along with junior Amber Brewster and Freshman Kira Varada notched two goals each. Gabriele Thornton, Megan Collins, Kati Paavola and freshman Kacie Scarduzio all snuck one past the goal keepers. 

Votto started the game for the Gaels, in the first half the freshman made eight saves only allowing three goals in 30 minutes. Walk-on sophomore Paige Ghilani made her debut for the Maroon & Gold, playing the entire second half. Ghilani made two saves and allowed four goals. 

As a team Iona assisted on half of the goals with senior Megan Collins leading the team with three beautiful dishes. Iona put 39 shots up with a staggering 33 of them on goal. For the game both teams combined for 16 ground balls, 11 to Iona and 5 to CCSU. Eight different Gaels caused one turnover each through the 60 minutes of play. 

Central Connecticut opened the scoring five minutes in, Leah Marshall knotted up the score at 1-1, Amber Brewster scored the Gaels second goal at the 6:40 mark making it 2-1. Iona didn't look back and goals by Varada and Stewart made it 4-1 heading into the 2nd quarter. 

Six straight goals by Iona to start the 2nd quarter gave the Maroon & Gold a very comfortable lead 10-1. CCSU tried to claw back, cutting the deficit to 7 goals after scoring two goals 20 seconds apart. Varada and Carpenter secured two goals in the last 4 minutes of the first half to increase the lead back up to nine before the start of the second half. 

Iona stayed in control during the second half and never let the lead get lower than a 10 goal lead. The second half goals came from Meyer twice, Thornton, Marshall, Paavola, Collins, Scarduzio, and Carpenter.     

UP NEXT

Iona will host Merrimack on Sunday, February 27 at 1 pm. The Maroon & Gold will look to make it three W's in a row.  

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