The Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse locker room was louder than ever after the team scored a season-high 18 goals over the Iona Gaels who finished only with eight. 

Two of the early first-half goals came from grad students Maddie Deegan and Sophie Iaccino, who were welcomed into the 100-point club.

“It couldn’t have been a more perfect scenario,” said head coach Tanya Kotowicz with a smile. “This game helped us seal the deal for the playoffs, and to have two special moments for people that have helped us get there on that day is coupled. They’re two selfless players and to achieve a milestone like that being so selfless is impressive.” 

The matchup between the Bobcats and Gaels started with a turnover on both sides but Quinnipiac was the first team to take control with a confident goal by Desiree Kleberg followed by a quick answer by Gaels sophomore Laine Walterson.

That would be Iona’s only goal of the quarter as the Bobcats completely took over the momentum after Iaccino hit Sophie Spencer who cut down the middle for a nice finish. 

Quinnipiac finished the quarter on a 4-0 run which included an amazing wrap-around shot from Amy Nicoloff who seemed to lay out in midair for the finish which was followed by a buzzer-beater by Kleberg.

This extended the Bobcat lead to 6-1 at the end of the first. 

Quinnipiac maintained its momentum to open up the second quarter by having the first two goals. However, the Gaels started to find their own push with back-to-back goals from Amber Brewster and Kira Varada.

At this point, Iona only trailed by four.

Deegan ended the Gael’s streak after she slashed the middle for an open look and snatched her 100th point with 4:42 remaining. 

The crowd got riled up as the Gaels used the energy to turn up the defensive heat as well and were the next team to score off another goal from Varada. 

To end the quarter, the Bobcats took an early shot that missed and turned the possession over to Iona with 37 seconds to go. However, Iona could not convert and the teams were sent into halftime with a 9-5 score still in Quinnipiac’s favor. 

Iona was the first to score three and a half minutes into the second half from a free-position score by Emily Stewart cutting the Quinnipiac lead to three. 

Iona controlled the draw after that score but the Bobcats are ready to answer and force the Gaels into a turnover leading to their 10th goal. It was also a free-position score finished by Deegan. 

They repeated this action for the next few possessions forcing three more turnovers. They convert one of those three to a goal to bring the lead back up to 11-6. This was followed up by Ariana Burns who cut the Bobcat’s run by spinning off her defender and finishing the shot. 

The Gaels followed that possession with good defensive possessions which forced the Quinnipiac offense down to a 20-second shot clock and are able to deflect the shot attempt and gain possession of the ball. 

However, it wasn’t enough as Bobcats grad student Sophie Spencer works on the defensive side as she got her team the ball back. 

Spencer built on her efforts by drawing two defenders on the offensive which opened up an opportunity for Iaccino to finish her 20th goal of the season. This is the last goal of the quarter for both teams and the game heads into the fourth with a score of 12-7. 

The Bobcats would open with the first goal by Emily Feeney as this was her second of the game. From here, the gap grew with little resistance.

Quinnipiac finished the game on a 1-6 score run with contributions from Sophia Laccino who had one, Feeney who scored two, Mia Delman who also had one, and the last by Kleberg who snagged two.

Iona’s only goal came from Micaela FitzPatrick three minutes and 46 seconds into the quarter. 

Quinnipiac is now responsible for just about all of the noise in the stadium for the rest of the game and well into the time after as they celebrated with a loud cheer carrying enough power to start the Gael buses for them followed by a dance party in the locker room. 

Iaccino emerged from the locker room excited but doesn’t let it offset what was to come. 

“This has been one of the best seasons we’ve had so far,” Iaccino said, who has scored at least 20 goals in each of her past three seasons. “It’s not over yet until the fat lady sings.” 

The Bobcats are looking to continue to keep the fat lady from singing as they travel to Maryland on Saturday to face the Mount Saint Mary’s Saints.