FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Riley Hellstein scored a goal with just 9.8 seconds left in regulation, completing a hat trick and lifting the Fairfield University women's lacrosse team to an 8-7 win over visiting Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon at Rafferty Stadium. Julieanne Mascera also notched a three-point day for the Stags with two goals and an assist.
Fairfield (10-4, 5-1) also got goals from Alex Fehmel, Colleen Reynolds and Jenna Fuchs, while Courtney Chmil added an assist. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Monmouth (10-4, 5-1 MAAC) stakes the Stags to what could be a pivotal tiebreaker should the clubs remain tied in the standings
On the defensive side of the field, Caleigh O'Connor made seven saves to earn the win in her first career start. Meghan Reda collected three ground balls for Fairfield, while Fehmel and Shelby Iapoce each recorded two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Hellstein also came away with four draw controls, including the ball that led to her game-winning goal and the ensuing draw control that iced the game.
Claudia LaMarc, Marial Pierce and Carly Sane each scored two goals to lead the Hawks' offense. Monmouth goalkeeper Katie Donohoe made 10 stops.
Fairfield came out firing in the first half. The Stags' aggressive play led to four free-position goals in the first 16:53 of action. Fehmel, Hellstein (twice) and Mascera finished off the goals as the Stags jumped out to a 4-1 advantage. However, Monmouth responded with a 5-0 run to complete the frame, carrying a 6-4 advantage into the intermission.
The Stags quickly closed the gap in the second half as Reynolds scored at 26:57 and Fuchs netted the equalizer at 25:37. The Hawks reclaimed the lead at 7-6 on a Pierce goal with 19:14, but that unassisted mark would be the visitors' only tally of the second half.
Fairfield knotted the game at 7-7 on a Mascera free-position shot at 3:01. Hellstein won the ensuing draw control, and the Stags maintained possession into the closing seconds. It was Hellstein who split a pair of defenders and sent home the game-winning goal with 9.8 seconds left.
Hellstein made her own goal stand-up, grabbing the final draw control and running out the clock on an 8-7 triumph.
Fairfield outshot Monmouth, 25-21, including a 12-4 advantage in the second half. The Stags owned a 17-12 edge in ground balls and committed eight turnovers while pressuring the Hawks into nine miscues.
Today's game concluded the Stags' regular-season action on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Fairfield will visit MAAC opponents Marist (7-6, 3-3 MAAC) and Quinnipiac (2-12, 1-5 MAAC) to wrap-up the schedule. The top six teams in the MAAC qualify for the upcoming 2015 MAAC Championship.
