NEW ROCHELLE, NY- The Iona College lacrosse team suffered their fifth defeat of the season at the hands of the Marist Red Foxes in thrilling fashion in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season opener at Mazzella Field. With the 12-11 loss, the Gaels fall to 4-5 on the 2015 campaign.
Senior Meghan Testoni, junior Mark Kate McCormick and sophomore Erin Pugh led the way for the Maroon & Gold with three goals a piece. McCormick added two assists to her five point day, pushing her assist total to 19 on the season, which leads the MAAC. Pugh’s hat trick brings her total to 27 on the campaign, which also leads the conference. Senior Blaire Nathanson kept the Gaels in the game with 12 saves between the pipes, making five saves in the first half, and seven more in the second.
After the Red Foxes jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 12 minutes of play, the Gaels quickly responded to tie up the score with 12:38 remaining in the first half. Thanks to two goals by Pugh and Testoni, a goal by McCormick, and sophomore Grace Celona’s first career goal, Iona went into the locker room trailing 7-6.
Pugh netted her third of the contest just over a minute into the second half to tie the score at seven. Marist responded with two unanswered goals of their own to take a 9-7 lead. Iona went on a tear from the 17:08 mark to the 11:37 mark ripping four goals in that span. Freshman Emma Hager started the run, followed by McCormick’s second goal, Testoni’s third, and finally McCormick’s third to take an 11-9 lead. Marist capped of the game with three unanswered goals to pull off the 12-11 victory.
The Gaels are back in action on Saturday March 28 when they take on Niagara at Mazzella Field. Opening face-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.