LOUDONVILLE, NY - Iona women's lacrosse team's seven game winning streak was snapped by the Saints of Siena in the final seconds. Iona held a 20-17 lead entering the final six minutes of the game but the host team went on a 4-0 run and scored the game winning goal with three seconds left on the clock.

GAME SUMMARY

Junior Emily Stewart was near unstoppable on the offensive end of the field scoring six goals on seven shots on goal and was 100 percent on free position chances. Freshman Kira Varada notched five goals on the day. She also added a team high 11 draw controls. Varada and Stewart combined for 20 of the 26 Iona draw controls. Seniors Gabriele Thornton and Emma Rippon each notched a hat trick, while Alexa Maggiacomo, Megan Collins, and freshman Alyssa Castellano scored a goal each. Collins added two assists as well.   

Freshman Sofia Votto was in net for the Gaels playing all 60 minutes saving two shots. As a team the Maroon & Gold picked up six ground balls and caused five turnovers, Varada had the team high with two CT's.     

Both offenses came hot out of the gate scoring six goals in the opening 15 minutes. Stewart opened the scoring for both teams finding the back of the net 52 seconds in. Varada notched her 21st of the season four minutes later giving the gaels a two goal lead. Siena answered shortly after, but the Gaels offense stayed on the gas scoring two more, by Varada and Maggiacomo, making it a 4-1 game half way through the first. 

Siena did not back down in the first, they went on a 3 goal run of their own and knotted things back up at 4-4 with just over four minutes to play in the first. Varadas third gave the lead back to the Gaels but two quick goals made it look like Siena would take the lead entering the next quarter, but Rippon had other plans.  

Tied at 6-6 entering the second frame, Iona's offense hit a wall only scoring three goals to Siena's seven in the quarter. Iona's three goals came from Megan Collins, Emily Stewart and Emma Rippon. Iona entered the halftime break down 13-9. 

Despite both teams not scoring the entire first half of the third quarter, Iona's offense was a wrecking crew to start the second half and out scored the Saints 6-2 in the third. The Maroon and Gold scored three straight to start the second half, goals off the sticks of Varada, and two from Emily Stewart. 

Siena finally got on the board in the second half with 3:10 left on the clock. The hosts scored two goals to regain a three goal lead. With 1:26 elft the Gaels kept the foot on the gas pedal and scored three goals to tie the game at 15-15 entering the final 15 minutes. 

The Maroon & Gold regained the lead in the first minute after not leading since early in the second quarter. With 6:28 left in the game Iona had a three goal lead, leading 20-17. Siena went on a four goal run. The Saints capitalized on a man-up opportunity scoring the game winning goal with 0:03 on the clock.                 

UP NEXT

The Gaels stay on the road for the next game on Wednesday March 30 at Fairfield, opening draw scheduled for a 3 pm start. 

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