RIVERDALE, NY - Iona women's lacrosse ties program record for most wins in a season with their ninth with over Manhattan, 12-11. It came down to the final possession as Kira Varada forced a Jasper Turnover with 11 seconds left to seal the deal. With twelve goals in today's game, the Gaels also set a new program record with 213 goals in a season, Iona still has two more games in the regular season to push that number even higher. 

Iona was led on offense by junior Amber Brewster, scoring a team high five goals and adding one assist. Senior Kati Paavola also notched a hat trick. The two combined for nine points. Emily Stewart and Kira Varada both found the back of the net twice. As a team Iona assisted on three of the twelve goals. 

In net for the Gaels freshman Sofia Votto got the win, making 11 saves and only allowing 11 goals, she also picked up two ground balls and caused one turnover. Iona combined for 19 ground balls with Varada having seven of her own, she also caused a team high three turnovers.        

GAME SUMMARY

In a low scoring first quarter, it was the Maroon & Gold who got on the board first. Brewster found the back of the net and gave the Gaels an early 1-0 lead. About three minutes later Brewster recorded her second of the game off a free position and Iona jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Manhattan bounced back after going scoreless in the first half of quarter one. Iona staying scoreless for the last 10 minutes of the opening frame allowed the hosts to knot things up at 2-2 with 3:45 left to play in the first quarter. 

Just like the first 15 minutes, Iona opened the scoring this time it was the 4x MAAC Rookie of the Week Kira Varada. The Japers tied things up at 3-3 and then a couple minutes later took their first lead 4-3 with just under seven minutes left in the first half. With seconds to spare in the first half Paavola notched her first of the game, scoring off a free position shot. 

The second half started with a quick goal by the home team as they reclaimed their one goal lead. Iona answered with three quick goals of their own, by Brewster, Varada, and Stewart. The Jaspers answered with a small two goal run and knotted things up at 7-7  with 6:53 left in the high scoring third period. 

The scoring in the third wasn't finished as the Gaels scored 33 seconds apart and went back up two goals for the third time this game. Manhattan ended the third quarter sneaking one past Votto and made it a one goal game entering the final frame. 

Iona's offense came out hot scoring their three goals of the entire quarter in the first four minutes, giving the Maroon & Gold a 12-8 lead with just under 11 minutes left to play. All three Iona goals in the final 15 came off the stick of Brewster. 

Manhattan did not back down, they went ona 3-0 run and trimmed the Iona lead down to one with two minutes left to play. With seconds left on the clock the freshman Varada stepped up big time to force a turnover on the Jasper's final possession.   

UP NEXT

Iona will be back in action next week at home on April 20th at 3pm, they will be taking on the Bobcats of Quinnipiac.   

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