NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona women's lacrosse comes out on top 17-10 over Sacred Heart university after a strong second half. Outsourcing their opponent 8-2 in the second 30 minutes. Sophomore Kira Varada led the team with five goals and two assists. Junior Micaela FitzPatrick also recorded a hat trick.   

GAME SUMMARY

Senior Amber Brewster opened the scoring in the first minute of the game on the Maroon & Gold's first free position chance. Junior captain Alexa Maggiacomo followed the Brewster goal with one of her own making it a quick 2-0 start for the Gaels. Couple minutes later the Pioneers got on the board, cutting into the Iona lead. The Maroon & Gold answered with another two goals from Varada & FitzPatrick extending the lead to 4-1. The second half of the first quarter saw a lot more action but this time from Sacred Heart, as they closed out the first quarter on a 5-1 run and took a one goal lead entering the second 15.   

Varada capitalized on a free position to knott things back up at 6-6 to start the second quarter. Senior captain Emily Stewart found the back of the net and gave the lead back to Iona for a brief moment before the Pioneer tied it back up with 7:48 left in the first half. Another goal from the foe gave them a one goal advantage but back to back goals from FitzPatrick gave the halftime lead to Iona and the Gaels never looked back.  

Freshman keeper Lauren Sweeney started the second half in net for the Maroon & Gold. Varada opened the second half scoring that would spark four straight goals from Iona, giving them a five goal lead with six minutes left to play in the third quarter. Sacred Heart scored a lone goal in the third. The fourth quarter was all Iona again, outscoring the Pioneers by three goals and holding them to just one goal just like the third quarter. The second half goals came off the sticks of Varada, Stewart, junior Alexa Skoubas, Brewster, and Laine Walterson.   

NOTABLE NUGGETS

• Varada notched her 100th career draw control, she is currently 70 behind the school record.
• Votto and Sweeney combined for 8 saves and allowed ten goals combined. 
• Both teams combined to go 7-19 on free position opportunities. 
• The Gaels put 35 shots with 27 of them on goal.  
• Iona also dominated the draw controls with 15 more than the Pioneers. (23-8).
• Varada led the team with 7 draw controls, 6 ground balls and 4 caused turnovers. 

UP NEXT

Gaels travel to Merrimack on Saturday March 4 for their first road game of the season.   

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