BROOKVILLE, NY - The Iona women's lacrosse program head to long island for a match-up against the Sharks of Long Island University, where they saw their second half come-back come up short falling 7-5 and are now 0-4 on the season. 

Iona's offense came out cold as they went scoreless in the first and entered the second quarter in a three goal hole. It took the Gaels nine minutes into the second to get on the board, Kira Varada found the back of the net and cut the Shark lead to 4-1. After an assist on the first Gael goal, Natasha Newport scored her first of the season and notched her second point of the game with two minutes left in the first half. 

Varada and Newport combined for the first goal out of the halftime break for either team and the Maroon & Gold were able to get it within one. Both teams scored in the final two minutes of the third, Varada notched her first hat trick of the season, to keep it a one goal game entering the final 15 minutes.

With 13:13 left to play Calen Norton snuck one past the Sharks goalie Mylie Norton, who is Calen's older sister, and knotted things up at five goals apiece. The remaining 13 minutes the Gaels would go scoreless, as the hosts found the back of the net twice sealing the victory at 7-5. 

Lauren Sweeney got the start in net for the Maroon & Gold, she made eight saves on 19 shots faced, posting a .533 save percentage. As team the Gaels picked up 18 ground balls and caused 15 turnovers. Both Norton and Amelia Kelley picked up three ground balls each, and senior Kira Varada led the team with four caused turnovers. 

Iona will be on the road for the third straight game on Mar 5 at Lehigh, opening draw in scheduled for 2 pm and can be stream on the ESPN+.

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