Iona College put in an impressive performance Saturday in beating Notre Dame in a non-conference D1A clash between the two prominent Catholic universities at a packed house at Iona's Mazzella Field.

Injuries have been an issue for Iona and they were against Saturday. Captain and scrumhalf Connor Buckley was lost to injury in the first minute, but the Gaels bounced back and rode an impressive second half to win 45-15.

"They finally stopped feeling sorry for themselves and turned up the heat in the second half," growled Iona Head Coach Bruce McLane.

And that they did, ramping up the physicality and knocking Notre Dame ballcarriers flat onto the ground. By doing that and keeping the ball moving, and with Buckley's younger brother, Brendan, filling in admirably at scrumhalf, Iona controlled the pace and tone of the game in the second 40.

Hooker Tyler Ringwood scored three tries for Iona, while center Watson Filikitonga had two. John Powers added a try and five conversions for 15 points. But perhaps the star turn of the day, along with Brendan Buckley, was flanker Cam DiGiorgio. He put in a ton of work in the breakdown and scored a try as well.

Fullback Connor Grace scored Notre Dame's lone first-half try, which, with flyhalf Leo Fangmeyer's conversion and a penalty, made it 12-10 Iona at the break. But the Irish only got one try in the second half, with No. 8 Mike Matarazzo going over.

Iona 45
Tries: Ringwood 3, Filikitonga 2, Powers, DiGiorgio
Convs: Powers 5

Notre Dame 15
Tries: Grace, Matarazzo
Convs: Fangmeyer
Pens: Fangmeyer