Big Second Half Lifts #IWL Over LIU Brooklyn, 14-11

Written By: Talk of the Sound News

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College lacrosse team returned to Mazzella field and picked up a 14-11 victory over LIU Brooklyn in their final non-conference matchup of the season. After being down at half 7-5, Iona used a strong second half, and a late four goal surge, to even their season mark to 5-5.

Senior Mary Kate McCormick helped lead the Gaels offense with an outstanding day, netting four goals to go along with five assists. Junior Erin Pugh continued her outstanding shooting, rifling home four net-finders making this her fourth straight game with at least three goals.

Junior Rachelle Serafini facilitated the Gaels offense alongside McCormick with four assists. Six Gaels recorded one goal, including junior Katelyn Noschese, sophomores Kaitlyn Becker, Pamela Giordano, Jenna Tolzmann and freshmen Christine Gironda and Libby Miller. 

The Blackbirds netted the first goal of the game, but Iona would answer back 15 seconds later as McCormick took the draw control all the way to the goal to put it at 1-1. 

Alternating goals was the trend for majority of the first half, before LIU Brooklyn would go ahead on a late three-goal run, with latter-two coming in final thirty seconds of the opening half.

The second half started with a quick Iona goal from Pugh, assisted by Serafini. However the Blackbirds would answer the quick hit as they’d tally up two quick scores of their own to go up 9-6. 

The Maroon & Gold then turned up the heat with a four-nothing run, courtesy of two goals by McCormick and Pugh.

Iona took the lead 10-9, but just for a shorttime; LIU responded with a two goal run to retake the lead 11-10. That sparked the fire beneath the Gaels as they tore up the Blackbirds in the last seven minutes of the second half with a 4-0 run to come away with the victory 14-11. 

Iona led in most of team categories, rattling off a staggering 32 shots to LIU Brooklyn’s 22 shots. They also won the turnover margin 17-22 and secured more draw controls 15-11. 

The Maroon & Gold are back in action at Mazzella field for their MAAC home-opener against Fairfield this Wednesday Apr. 6 at 3:00pm.