FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team downed Quinnipiac University, 18-7, for their sixth straight win this afternoon on Lessing Field. The victory lifted the Stags to a 5-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) record.
Senior Jenna Slowey led Fairfield with a game-high five goals while classmate Melanie Raso added four goals. Rookie Riley Hellstein netted two goals for the Stags who also received goals from Jamie Leone, Julieanne Mascera, Colleen Reynolds, Maeve Quinn, Alex Fehmel, Riley Smith, and Scarlett Sulliman.
Raso put Fairfield on the board when she scored back-to-back goals at 22:34 and 22:08 in the opening frame. The Bobcats answered with their own set of consecutive goals, from Kyra Ochwat and Michaela Tinsley, at 20:02 and 12:56. Consecutive goals from Quinn, Slowey, and Hellstein allowed Fairfield to open up a 5-2 advantage with 3:03 remaining.
At 1:22, Quinnipiac narrowed the gap with free position goal by Kathleen DeVito. After an unassisted goal by the Bobcats' Alex Hlesciak, the Stags' lead was down to a goal. With three seconds left in the half, Raso found Reynolds to give Fairfield a 6-4 advantage heading into halftime.
The Stags came out strong in the second half, scoring the first goal. Quinnipiac battled back, with a second goal by Ochwat at 27:33, making the score 7-5. Fairfield stepped up the intensity with a 5-0 run, with three goals from Slowey and one each from Leone and Fehmel. After a third goal from Ochwat at 19:44, the Stags answered when Leone found Slowey for her fifth goal of the game, at 15:14.
Fairfield expanded its lead to 18-6 with another 5-0 run. The first two goals were from Mascera and Raso at 8:50 and 8:01. At 7:34, Hellstein scored before Sulliman netted her first colligate goal at 6:40. Sulliman also tallied her first career assist when she fed Smith for Fairfield's final goal of the game at 4:25. In the remaining four minutes, the Bobcats scored one goal, off a free position shot at 1:24, but were unable to catch the Stags. Fairfield defeated Quinnipiac in an 18-7 decision.
The Stags outshot the Bobcats 37-19, had a 21-16 advantage in ground balls, and an 18-9 advantage in draw controls. Sophomore Chelsey Sidaras and rookie Caleigh O'Connor split time in the net for Fairfield. Sidaras and Quinnipiac's Samantha Tilts each tallied seven saves while the Bobcats' Rachel Massicotte tallied two.
It was a group effort from Fairfield with three other rookies checking in for the Stags. Brenna Weill, Sammi Vickers, and Kaitlyn Arnold all saw time for Fairfield.
For the Bobcats, Ochwat tallied three goals while Kelly Babstock tallied three ground balls, three draw controls, and an assist. Hlesciak added one goal and one draw control for Quinnipiac.
Fairfield (10-3) will host Marist, who is also undefeated in conference play, on Saturday, April 19 for Senior Day. Prior to the game, the Stags will be recognizing the contributions of their seniors.
The first phase of construction on the Rafferty Stadium has gotten underway. Due to the construction, the Walsh Athletic Center Parking Lot is closed. Fans are asked to utilize the parking lots at Dolan Commons, Fairfield Prep, the rear of Alumni Hall, and Jogues Hall when they visit Stags Country for a game.
