Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara women's lacrosse team dropped a 16-7 decision to its conference opponent the Iona Gaels on Saturday afternoon at Niagara Field. 

"Any coach will tell you any loss is tough," head coach Amber Hill said.  "Our defense and midfield generates turnovers and gets the ball out, but our attack will not capitalize.  Right now our attack and lack of leadership in the offensive 30 needs a massive 180 change."  

The Gaels (7-5; 1-1 MAAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest, before junior Fran Pollastro brought the Purple Eagles (3-6; 0-2 MAAC) back within one off a pass from sophomore Paige Matecki.  Matecki connected with Pollastro on a long feed for the clear, before the junior ran in on goaltender Maria Ortiz and ripped one over her shoulder to make it 2-1. 

Iona then went on a 5-0 run that included a two-goal effort by junior Kylie Gregory to earn a hat trick, until senior Taryn Burkholder netted her third goal of the season.  The Purple Eagles and Saints traded tallies for the remainder of the opening half to make it a 9-3 Iona lead heading into the intermission.

After the opening half saw five goals in the first ten minutes of play, the second half did not see a goal until the 21:45 mark when sophomore Brenna Lade tallied a free position goal.  Freshman Courtney Pierce countered with one of her own less than three minutes later to make it a 10-4 contest.

With 16:41 left in the second stanza, senior Nicole Karek brought the game back to within five goals for the Purple Eagles with her eighth tally of the season, but the 6-2 run by the Gaels that followed prevented the Niagara comeback. 

Niagara goaltender Kaitlin Sorgi stopped 10 Iona shots. 
 
Niagara wraps up its three-game homestand on Wednesday, April 11 when the Purple Eagles host conference foe the Siena Saints.  Action is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Niagara Field. 

Wednesday's contest between the Purple Eagles and the Saints can also be seen live in the Buffalo area courtesy of Time Warner Cable Sports Net.