FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team will take Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on the road as the Stags travel to New Rochelle, N.Y. to face Iona on April 2 at 3pm.
Fairfield (6-3) vs. Iona (1-7): The Stags are 11-0 all-time against the Gaels since 1995. Last season, Jamie Leone scored two goals to lead Fairfield to a 15-8 win over Iona on Lessing Field. The Stags also received goals from Courtney Chmil, Jenna Slowey, Jenna Fuchs, Julieanne Mascera, and Maeve Quinn. Fairfield took the lead at 22:12 in the first half, off a goal from Leone, and never looked back. Goalie Chelsey Sidaras saw 11 minutes in the net and tallied two saves for the Stags.
Scouting the Gaels: Iona split last week's games and is coming off a 19-12 loss to conference foe Canisius on March 29. Senior goalkeeper Maria Ortiz picked up MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on March 24 after collecting 28 saves over two non-conference games for the Gaels. Rookie Erin Pugh is Iona's leading scorer this season with 13 goals. Nina Veneziale follows, tallying 11 goals while Meghan Testoni and Mary Kate McCormick are tied for third with nine apiece.
Last Time Out: Fairfield was last in action on March 29 when the Stags defeated MAAC opponent Niagara, 19-7, on Alumni Field. Melanie Raso scored four goals for Fairfield while rookies Riley Hellstein and Alex Fehmel netted three each. Colleen Reynolds, Leone, and Slowey tallied two apiece and the Stags also received goals from Mascera, Kaitlyn Arnold, and Riley Smith.
She's in Control: Senior Melanie Raso is one draw control away from setting the new career standard at Fairfield. Raso enters this game tying the program record of 141 set by Chloe Mangan in last season's contest against Iona. Raso is also in the Stags' career top-10 in points (148) and goals (115). She also has eight game-winning goals during her career, two away from tying the program record.
Looking Ahead: The Stags will continue conference play on the road. Fairfield will stop at Manhattan on April 5 before returning home to host Siena on April 12 at 1pm.
