NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona Women’s Lacrosse program lost a hard-fought double-overtime contest to the Manhattan Jaspers Wednesday night. The host scored the game-winner 41 seconds into the second period to down the Gaels.
Sophomore Libby Miller, junior Pamela Giordano and senior Erin Pugh led the Maroon & Gold with two goals each. Sophomore Maureen Murphy, junior Kaitlyn Becker and senior Grace Celona each tallied one goal in the contest. In net, sophomore Shannon McCaffrey played the entirety, collected 12 saves.
As a team, the Gaels (4-10, 1-4 MAAC) outshot Manhattan 37-27, and grabbed 22 ground balls compared to the Jaspers’ 20. Iona was successful on 14-18 clear attempts and caused 15 turnovers.
Pugh scored the first goal of the game just 44 seconds in, but was answered by the Jaspers just 42 ticks later. With 25:22 remaining, the Jaspers (4-9, 1-4 MAAC) went ahead, but Murphy knotted the score seven minutes later. The score remained until the Jaspers gave themselves the advantage, but was short lived with Giordano’s strike two minutes later. Becker gave the Maroon & Gold it’s first lead of the game when senior Katelyn Noschese found Becker in front, putting the score at 4-3. Manhattan scored the next three goals over the next four minutes as the Gaels found themselves down by a pair with 9:06 remaining in the half.
With 6:14 to play in the opening period, Pugh connected off a feed from Murphy and was followed by Miller knotting the score at 6-6 with 4:41 to play. The Jaspers scored two of the final three over the frame, with Iona’s goal coming from the hands of Miller and assisted by Pugh. The Gaels and Jaspers went into the break with Manhattan holding an 8-7 advantage.
The teams locked down defensively in the second half, with only three goals being scored in the 30 minutes of regulation. Giordano tied the score with 13:21, but the Jaspers were able to gain the opening draw and score just 11 seconds later. Celona found room off a dish from Pugh with 8:33 in regulation The teams would trade chances but no shot would find the back of the net, with the two teams needing extra time to decide the contest.
Iona was responsible for the only shot in the first overtime period, coming off a rip from Becker that deflected off the post and was corralled by the Jaspers. In the second overtime period, Manhattan controlled the opening draw and connected with the game-winner 41 ticks in and downed the Maroon & Gold.
The Gaels have a week off before they return on action at Fairfield at 3:00 PM.