BUFFALO, NY- The Iona College women’s lacrosse team fell to Canisius 16-11 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contest at Demske Sports Complex. The Gaels are 0-4 in MAAC play to start the 2015 campaign.
Iona was lead by sophomore Erin Pugh with four shots in the back of net, giving her a MAAC leading 34 goals on the season. The other Gaels to score were seniors Meghan Testoni and Casey Palmer, sophomore Rachelle Serafini and freshmen freshman Tori Anderson, Emma Hager and Jenna Tolzmann.
Junior Mary Kate McCormick lone assist was her MAAC-leading 20th of the season. Testoni and Pugh also recorded assists. Senior goalie Blaire Nathanson tallied eight saves in the loss.
The Gaels jumped out to a 2-1 lead through the first eight minutes of the game thanks to Pugh and Serafini. Just over a minute later, Canisius’ Ashley Bull tied it up for the home team. The Maroon & Gold led 6-3 after a 4-1 run over a 10 minute span. The Griffs clawed their way back into the game and knotted the score at 7-7 with 72 seconds left before halftime.
Canisius began the second half scoring five of the first six goals to open a 12-8 advantage with less than 22 minutes to play. Back-to-back Gael goals by Hager and Tolzmann brought it to 12-10 with 17:20 remaining. The Griffs answered with four straight tallies to go ahead by six goals at the 4:45 mark. Anderson’s goal in the final two minutes rounded out the final margin.