The Iona College Lacrosse Team’s season came to a close at the MAAC Championships on Mazzella field as the No. 4 seeded Gaels lost a heartbreaker to the No. 1 seeded Fairfield Stags 10-8 on April 29.

Having lost to Fairfield just eight days before 12-6, the Gaels definitely played a much closer game this time around. It did not look good from the start, having given up two early goals in the first period. However, the Gaels came roaring back.

The comeback started with a goal by junior Emily Taddei with 13:10 left in the first period, her 12th goal of the season. The Gaels used this goal to gain momentum as the game continued.

The game tying goal came with 6:00 left in the first period by senior captain Caitlin Collins, good for her 26th goal of the season. The Gaels weren’t done just yet in the first, as sophomore Kylie Gregory scored her 27th goal of the year to put the Gaels on top 3-2, with 2:43 left. The Gaels would bring that lead into the second period.

The Stags came out with a quick start to the second period, as they scored three goals within the first four minutes to give them a 5-3 lead.

The Gaels came right back, as Collins scored her second goal of the day with 21:19 left to cut the lead in half, 5-4. Four minutes later, the Gaels made their second comeback of the day as freshman Nina Veneziale scored her 20th goal of the season to deadlock the score at 5-5.

After this point however, Fairfield was just too much for the Gaels. They scored four unanswered goals within six minutes to put them on top for good, with a 9-5 lead. Senior captain Elizabeth Colohan scored her 27th goal of the season to try to get the Gaels back into it.

Less than two minutes later Fairfield scored again to put them on top 10-6. Despite Coholan’s second goal of the game and Collins third of the game as the second period went on, the Gaels were unable to make their third comeback of the day, losing 10-8. Fairfield led in shots 21-20 and 14-6 in draw controls while Iona took advantage in ground balls 18-12.

 Iona finishes its season with an overall record of 5-12, with a conference record of 3-5. The Gaels will say goodbye to five seniors on the team, Caitlyn Collins, Kristen Russ, Caitlin Alagna, Stephanie Sumcizk and Elizabeth Colohan.

The seniors will be missed as the Gaels will look forward to next year in pursuit to take home the MAAC championship.