The Iona College Women’s Lacrosse team wrapped up their season against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foes, Marist and Siena.

In the game at Marist on April 17, the Gaels (4-12 overall, 2-4 MAAC) found themselves trailing 6-0 with 6:58 remaining in the first half. Junior defender Angela Grous scored her first goal of the year to put the Gaels on the board on a free position shot with 2:09 remaining in the period.

As time was expiring in the first half, junior midfielder Nina Veneziale scored to send the Gaels into the half down 8-2.

Marist continued their dominance in the second period, scoring 11 goals to defeat the Gaels 19-5. Iona was able to take 13 shots on net and scored three goals in the final 30 minutes. Veneziale scored her second goal of the game within the first five minutes of the period. Junior attacker Brenna Lade and sophomore attacker Chandler Borrosh also scored.

Iona struggled offensively after senior attacker Kylie Gregory, the team’s leading scorer, injured her ankle early in the game and did not return.

On April 20, the Gaels took on the Siena Saints in a do-or-die match-up, with MAAC Tournament implications. Prior to the game Head Coach Michelle Mason honored the teams four seniors: Gregory, defender Lauren Henwood, goalkeeper Nancy Ibrahim and attacker Brittney Mabus.

Siena jumped ahead early scoring three goals in less than five minutes of play. Sophomore midfielder Meghan Testoni scored the Gaels’ first goal of the game.

Freshman attacker Mary Kate McCormick scored two goals, as Iona and Siena remained close throughout the first period. Goals by Grous and two goals by Veneziale in the final two minutes of the 30-minute period kept the Gaels playoff hopes alive. The Maroon & Gold trailed 8-6 at halftime.

The intensity picked up in the second-half, but the Saints opened the second-period with a goal to pad their lead to three.

Sophomore midfielder Casey Palmer scored, cutting the deficit to a two. However, the Saints responded with two goals to take an 11-7 lead.

Veneziale made her third goal of the game to cut the deficit to three. But another Siena goal with 17:39 remaining bolstered the lead back to four. Testoni and Veneziale each scored again to cut the deficit in half, but it was not enough to defeat the Saints, who won 12-10.

Gregory was unable to play because of injury.

The Gaels’ season came to a disappointing end with these losses.

“We had a really tough schedule this year,” sophomore goalie Blair Nathanson said.

Of their four victories, three were at Mazzella Field. One of these victories came against Cincinnati, of the Big East. Iona, however, struggled on the road, amassing only one win in nine games.

Though the season ended in a disappointing fashion, the Gaels look forward to next season, when they will try to capture a MAAC Championship.