Third Time’s the Charm: Bobcats knock out Iona in overtime thriller

Photos: Liz Flynn

Steven McAvoy
March 19, 2021

Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse has only played four games this year, but Friday’s contest vs. Iona was undoubtedly the game of the year.

The Bobcats took down the Iona Gaels 15-14 in an early-season barnburner.

Coming off a win over Canisius, the Bobcats prepared to play an Iona team who ranked dead last in the preseason poll, albeit just behind the Bobcats at the eight spot.

The result was, in essence, bewildering.

The Bobcats started hot on a five-goal run over the first half of the contest with a quick multigoal effort by Maddie Noel. However, the wheels quickly started to fall apart.

Coming out of recess, the Bobcats allowed five unanswered and the Gaels took their first lead of the contest only eight minutes into the half. The Gaels finished the half with ten goals, eight of which came within the first six minutes of the restart.

With both sides dealing blows back and forth, Quinnipiac found its groove late, landing three straight goals in the final five minutes to force the overtime period.

Then things really got wild.

The Bobcats failed to find twine in two overtime periods, thanks largely in part to Gaels goaltender Darcy Elyse, who stopped six shots on net in the extra frames. It was noticeable as the game wore on that both sides were progressively failing to sustain pressure, yet nothing was giving.

Then along came Desiree Kleberg.

The sophomore midfielder finally broke the deadlock just 24 seconds into the third overtime period, notching her fourth goal of the contest and sealing the victory for the Bobcats.

Kleberg’s four goals gives her 10 on the season, second only behind graduate student Megan Szawlowski, who tallied two of her own, including the game-tying goal to force overtime.

The win puts the Bobcats at an even 2-2 on the season with a chance to make it three straight against this same Gaels team on Sunday afternoon. It probably can’t live up to this contest, but that’s something that both coaches will likely appreciate.