FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team dropped a heartbreaker in overtime 8-7 at Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon. It was the third straight game between the two sides with a final outcome of 8-7. The Stags fought back from two goals down to force the extra period, but it was Monmouth who came out with the victory.
The Stags were able to take an early 2-0 lead with goals from Alex Fehmel and Maeve Quinn just two and a half minutes into play.
Monmouth answered back to tie the game at two at the 23:53 mark. The teams then traded the next three goals with Fairfield gaining a 4-3 lead with 20 minutes remaining in the opening half. The Stags saw goals from Julieanne Mascera and Colleen Reynolds, to make it four different Fairfield goal scoerers in the first half.
As the pace of play settled, the Hawks took control scoring the final three goals of the stanza to head into the break with a 6-4 lead.
Fairfield again started the scoring in the second half with Mascera's second of the day to bring the score to 6-5. But Michelle Gonzales responded to put Monmouth back up by two, 7-5.
As both defenses took over the game, making stop after stop for the next 20 minutes, it was Fairfield who ended the scoring drought. At 4:37, Reynolds found Mascera in front of the cage as she took a great shot to bring the score within one. And less than one minute later, Brenna Connolly found herself open ahead of the Hawks defense and drove to the cage to tie the score at seven.
Connolly's goal would force the game into extra time, the first overtime period for the Stags all season. But Monmouth was up to the challenge in the extra frame, ending their 25 minute scoring drought. Less than one minute into overtime, Kate Ryan notched her second of the day to give the Hawks the 8-7 win.
"It was a disappointing result following an exceptional effort in the second half to hold them to one goal and to mount a comeback," said Head Coach Laura Field. "We are by no means satisfied by the result, but we saw some good adjustments from our players that should serve us well down the line."
Fairfield pushes through their MAAC schedule, hosting Quinnipiac on Wednesday, April 20 at Rafferty Stadium.
