NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Knotted at five at halftime, the Iona College lacrosse team found the net 11 times in the second half and picked up a 16-12 victory over St. Bonaventure University in non-conference action Sunday afternoon at Mazzella Field.
The 11 goals tallied are the most scored in a period by the Gaels since an 11-goal second half in a 21-13 victory over Cincinnati on Mar. 17, 2012. The program record for goals in a period is 13, set on Mar. 10, 2010 in an 18-7 home victory over Long Island University.
Leading the way for Iona was sophomore Erin Pugh, with four goals. Pugh now has 19 goals over the team’s first six games. Junior Mary Kate McCormick was once again the team’s lead facilitator, registering seven points on one goal and six assists. McCormick has 26 points on 11 goals and 15 assists during the early campaign.
Junior Casey Palmer and freshman Emma Hager each found the net three times, while senior Meghan Testoni recorded two goals and two assists. Junior Rachelle Serafini tallied three points on one goal and two assists.
In net, senior Blaire Nathanson made 12 saves. In two games this week, Nathanson registered 29 stops.
Overall, the team outshot the Bonnies 32-29, and held a 22-8 advantage on draw controls, led by Hager’s team-high eight, all coming in the second half.
Iona found itself in an early 2-0 hold just under seven minutes into the game before junior Anna Kelly put the Gaels on the board with her second goal of the season.
St. Bonaventure led 5-3 in the closing minutes of the first period, before Palmer scored with 2:09 remaining, and Testoni with 67 seconds left in the half, to even the score at five at intermission.
After two Iona goals gave the Gaels their first lead of the game, the Bonnies answered back to tie the contest at seven with 25:51 remaining in the contest.
Iona rattled off four straight goals, one from Pugh, another from Testoni, and two from Hager to take the lead for good.
St. Bonaventure trimmed the deficit to one, 11-10, with 9:50 remaining before a 5-0 surge by the Maroon & Gold put the game out of reach. The Bonnies found the net twice in the closing minute of play.
Mikayla Place led St. Bonaventure with four points, and was one of four players to record two goals in the game.
The contest marked the final contest in a five-game home-stand for Iona (3-3), who next travels to Albany on Sunday, Mar. 15 for a 12:00 pm first draw.