STORRS, Conn. -- The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team fell to UConn, 8-7, this afternoon at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex.

Melanie Raso and Riley Hellstein scored two goals apiece for the Stags, who also received goals from Courtney Chmil, Jenna Slowey, and Colleen Reynolds.

UConn took an early lead when Alexandra Crofts netted the first goal of the game at 25:16. Fairfield answered with a goal by Chmil, at 23:35, to tie the game at 1-1. Play continued until a free position shot by Kacey Pippitt returned the lead to UConn, about seven minutes later.  
 
A goal by Slowey, off a pass from Reynolds, at 12:48 tied the game at 2-2. A set of consecutive goals by Fairfield gave the Stags their first two-goal lead. The first goal was scored by Reynolds at 9:36 while the second was netted by Hellstein, off a free position shot, at 3:55. UConn was unable to take another shot, in the remaining 3:55 in the first half, giving the Stags a 4-2 advantage into halftime.    

Fairfield came out strong in the second half, scoring the first goal only two minutes in. Raso netted the goal, off a pass from Hellstein, at 28.46. Back-to-back goals by UConn brought the score to 5-4. The first goal was scored by Katherine Finkelstein, off a pass from Jordan Christopher at 27:19, while the second was netted by Crofts, one minute later.  
 
Another goal by Raso, off a pass from Hellstein, restored Fairfield's two-goal lead. Consecutive goals by UConn's Pippitt and Christopher tied the game at 6-6, at 20:41. A second set of consecutive goals by the Huskies gave UConn an 8-6 advantage at 11:15. The Stags battled back, with Hellstein netting her second goal of the game off a pass from Reynolds at 9:18. Fairfield took three shots in the remaining time but was unable to score, leaving an 8-7 win for UConn.

Sophomore Chelsey Sidaras manned the net for the Stags, making six saves, while the Huskies' Shannon Nee tallied seven.

For UConn, Finkelstein and Pippitt tallied two goals with one assist apiece. Pippitt added four draw controls while Crofts recorded two goals and one ground ball for the Huskies.

Fairfield (4-3) continues action on the road, stopping at Sacred Heart University on March 26 before returning home to open conference play against Niagara University on March 29.