The Iona College women’s lacrosse team has shown vast improvement from its 2017 campaign when the team went 5-12. The Gaels (5-4) have matched their win total from last season before hitting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play, which starts March 24 against Niagara.

Despite Iona supporting an above .500 record through nine games, the Gaels have hit a bump in the road, dropping two straight games.

The Gaels fell to Brown 10-6 in their last game on March 18. Iona held a 5-4 advantage going into halftime. However, the Bears’ surge in the second half was too much for Iona. Senior midfielder Jenna Tolzmann registered a team-high three goals on five shots. Junior goalie Shannon McCaffrey had 11 saves.

Iona allowed 10 goals in the previous game against Davidson on March 14. The Gaels started off on the wrong end of the score sheet, trailing the Wildcats 6-2 at the end of the first half. Iona managed to outscore Davidson 6-4 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback as the Gaels lost 10-8.

McCaffrey had nine saves and grabbed eight ground balls in the net. Tolzmann and senior Pamela Giordano each scored two goals. The Gaels had four more players score at least once.

McCaffrey has been a force for the Gaels in the net, averaging around 9.5 saves per game for the Gaels while starting every game. McCaffrey has been named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week two times this season already. McCaffrey also happens to be the team leader in ground balls with 36, while senior Gabriella Di Domizio is second with 24 balls scooped.  

On the offense for the Gaels, Giordano leads the team with 23 goals, including the game winning overtime goal in Iona’s 7-6 victory over UMASS Lowell on March 8. Tolzmann is second best goal scorer with 19 shots made.

While the out-of-conference play was great for the Gaels, those games do not count towards MAAC play. Iona looks to generate the same success during its conference slate as the team attempts to make a run at the MAAC Tournament.  

After Iona takes on Niagara on the road, the Gaels will come back to New Rochelle and square off against Canisius on March 30.

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