PHILADELPHIA - Trailing 13-11 with just 8:48 to play, La Salle women's lacrosse rallied with a game-clinching 3-0 run to beat Iona 14-13 in their season opener on Saturday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium.
 
Junior Tori Rolon poured in a career-best five goals to lead the Explorer offense, while the defense held Iona without a goal over the final 12:55 to secure a come-from-behind victory to begin their 2022 campaign.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Katie Paavola broke the ice for Iona 2:25 into the game to give the Gaels an early 1-0 advantage.
• Kiki Venza answered with the first goal of 2022 for La Salle to level the score 1-1.
• Rolon and Steinmetz extended the Explorer run to three with consecutive goals to push La Salle in front, 3-1.
• Rolon would add her second of the opening quarter with 1:55 to play, sandwiched by a pair of Iona goals as the two teams ended the first quarter locked at 4-4.
• La Salle started the second period on a 2-0 run, as Mackenzie Click found the back of the net with 9:39 remaining in the frame before Rolon completed a first-half hattrick with her third goal of the game two minutes later.
• However, the Gaels rallied to score the final two goals of the period courtesy of Katherine Meyer and Megan Collins to enter the half tied at 6-6.
• Collins scored her second-consecutive goal just 29 seconds into the second half to give Iona a 7-6 lead.
• The Explorers responded right back, as quick goals by Rolon and Johnston pushed La Salle back ahead, 8-7.
• The Gaels used a 6-3 run that extended into the fourth quarter to give Iona their biggest lead of the game, 13-11. Kira Varada keyed the Gael run with two goals during that stretch.
• That run would be the last offense Iona could muster, as La Salle's defense held Iona scoreless through the final 12:55 while the offense generated a 3-0 run to retake the lead for good.
• Junior Tori Rolon opened the late run with the last of her career-high five goals to draw the Explorers within one at the 8:48 mark.
• Caludia Steinmetz tallied her second goal of the game with 7:27 remaining to level the score, 13-13.
• Maddie Dachowski scored on a feed from fellow fifth-year Emily Johnston just 30 seconds later, giving La Salle a 14-13 lead with 6:56 to play.
• La Salle goalkeeper Julia Dellaratta, who made 11 saves, and the Explorers were able to hold off the Gaels the rest of the way to secure the win.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Gaels held the edge in shots, 37-27 as well as the advantage in draw controls, 17-14.
• Rolon's five goals were a career-best mark for the Delran, N.J. native. It also marks the fourth hattrick of her career, as she tallied three goals in three separate games in 2021.
• Making her first career start, Julia Dellaratta (1-0) made 11 saves to record her first collegiate win.
• In her first career start, sophomore Claudia Steinmetz recorded the first two goals and points of her career.  
• Sophomore Mackenzie Click's goal marked the first goal and point in her career at La Salle.
• Eight different Explorers found the net for the balanced La Salle offense in Rolon, Venza, Steinmetz, Johnston, Maddie Henderson, Dachowski, Click, and Kira Sides.

UP NEXT:
La Salle will stay at home for their second game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 19 when they host Mount St. Mary's at 1 p.m.