FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Meaghan Graham and Brenna Connolly each posted hat tricks to lead Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse on Sunday afternoon against visiting Lehigh. However, it was the Mountain Hawks who posted made the final run of the back-and-forth affair to exit Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium with a 12-11 decision.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Stags, who fall to 4-3 on the campaign. All three of the Stags' losses this spring have been by a single goal. Including today's result, seven of the last 11 meetings between Fairfield and Lehigh have been decided by one goal, and 10 of the 11 were settled by three tallies or fewer.

Lehigh improves to 5-3 with their third consecutive victory.

Graham added two assists to her first career hat trick to rack up a career-best five points. Connolly also dished out one helper to round out a four-point day. Brooke Gallagher and Olivia Russell netted two goals apiece, and Kelly Horning scored one. Mary Smyth distributed an assist to complement the Stags' attack.

In the cage, Paulina DiFatta made 13 saves, including several key stops on free-position attempts. The defensive effort in front of her was highlighted by two ground balls and two caused turnovers from Maggie Reynolds.

Erin Mammele once again led the effort on the draw, hauling in six draw controls to reach 150 for her career. Horning added three draw controls and Jillian Winwood came away with a pair as the Stags held a 13-12 edge on the draw for the game.

Kellie Gough paced the Lehigh attack with three goals, while Courtney Henig handed out a trio of assists in addition to one marker of her own. Samantha Sagi made 10 saves to earn the win in the cage for the Mountain Hawks.

Fairfield jumped out to an early lead as Gallagher started the scoring just 17 seconds into game. The Stags extended their advantage on a natural hat trick from Connolly, who posted three goals in a span of 3:51 to put Fairfield in front, 4-0. Lehigh would respond in kind however with four straight goals to knot the game at 4-4 at the 13:47 mark of the half.

The deadlock was short-lived as Gallagher finished a lead pass from Smyth just 23 seconds later to regain the lead. The squads traded goals for the remainder of the frame – with Graham and Russell accounting for the Fairfield tallies – as Lehigh converted a free-position shot with 3.5 seconds remaining to send the game into the intermission tied at 7-7.

The scoring pace slowed in the second half as it took more than seven minutes for Gough to break the tie and put Lehigh front for the first time at 8-7. Graham provided the answer for the Stags and, after a Julianne Puckette goal for the Mountain Hawks, Graham responded once again to knot the contest a 9-9 with 8:11 to go.

Lehigh held serve with back-to-back goals before Olivia Russell went top shelf off a feed from Graham to cut the deficit to 11-10 with 4:18 remaining. The Mountain Hawks would then take advantage of a Fairfield yellow card and converted while the Stags were shorthanded. The insurance tally stood as the game-winner as Connolly connected with Horning, who cut the deficit to 12-11 with 10.6 seconds left. Lehigh, however, emerged from a scrum with the ensuing draw control as the final seconds ticked away.

Lehigh held a 32-31 edge in shots and an 18-11 advantage in ground balls. The Stags committed 16 turnovers while forcing 14 Lehigh giveaways.

Today's game was the start of a four-game residency for the Stags on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Up next, Fairfield hosts Boston University on Wednesday, March 14 at 3 p.m.

Admission is free for all fans at all Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse regular season home games this season.