FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse is back on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium for a 1 p.m. Thursday matinee against visiting Niagara. Both the Stags and Purple Eagles are 1-0 in the early stages of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate. All of the action will be broadcast by the Stags Sports Network on Facebook Live with J.J. Duke and Allison Gaskins behind the microphone.

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

After peppering the cage for 18 goals in Saturday's 18-8 win over Siena, Fairfield (5-4) enters the week as the MAAC's top-rated offense. The attack has averaged 13.67 goals per game and also leads the MAAC with 5.89 assists and 31.78 shots per contest. The defense ranks second in the conference with 10.00 goals per game allowed, all contributing to Fairfield's MAAC-leading 3.67 goals per game scoring margin.

Individually, Brenna Connolly ranks fourth in the MAAC with 3.67 points per game (33 total) and slots at fifth with 1.56 assists per outing (14 total). She currently sits tied for third in program history with 53 career assists – sharing the slot with Erin Rigby '10. Connolly is 18 helpers shy of the record 71 assists doled out by Kristen Coleman '11.

A current Stag sitting second on a program ledger is Erin Mammele, who is eight draw controls shy of Fairfield's all-time mark. With 162 in her career, she trails only her former teammate Riley Hellstein '17, who hauled in 170 draws in her four standout seasons with the Stags. This spring, Mammele ranks second in the MAAC and sixth nationally with 7.56 draw controls per game.

On the defensive end, Paulina DiFatta leads the MAAC and slots ninth in the nation with a .522 save percentage. Her 9.79 goals-against average is good for second in the conference and her 10.78 saves per game rate third.

Scouting Niagara
The Niagara Purple Eagles, who will visit Rutgers on Tuesday evening before coming to Fairfield, are currently 4-5 overall. This past Saturday, Niagara clipped Iona, 13-12, in its MAAC opener. The Purple Eagles scored the first five goals of the game and withstood a 7-2 Iona run to close the contest to grab the one-goal victory.

Rachel MacCheyne leads the attack with 29 goals and eight assists and has also gathered a team-leading 55 draw controls. Caroline Crump adds 21 goals and eight helpers for the Purple Eagles' offense. Olivia Schroeder and Aubrey DeVeau have split time in the cage, aggregating a .393 save percentage and 14.78 goals-against average.

Parking & Tailgate Information
Parking for fans is available on a first come, first served basis. Fans may be directed by Public Safety personnel to designated parking areas. Fans are asked to observe all parking signs as they relate to handicapped, reserved or restricted parking.

Campus Map

Please note that the Walsh Athletic Center/Rafferty Stadium parking lot is closed to the general public during men's and women's lacrosse home games. Tailgating is limited to the Loyola gravel lot (Fairfield) and the Dolan East lot on Mooney Road (Niagara). Tailgating activities are prohibited in all other academic and residential parking lots and in the Kelley Center parking garage. Fans are reminded that classes and academic activities will be in session at both Fairfield University and Fairfield Prep on Thursday.

Handicapped parking is available in all lots for those with proper permits on a first come, first served basis. Those in need of additional assistance are encouraged to contact Fairfield Athletics at 203-254-4000 ext. 2208 to ensure that proper accommodations are met.

The follow items are not permitted inside Rafferty Stadium:
• Alcohol of any kind
• Outside food and drink
• Glass bottles, cans, frozen drinks, coolers, thermoses or ice chests
• Seat cushions measuring larger than 18" and contain zippers, pockets or concealable areas
• Any animal with the exception of a service animal (must provide certification upon request)
• Weapons (including knives), any item that may be used as a projectile or one that is deemed dangerous by Stadium management
• Any other item deemed inappropriate by Stadium management

Up Next
Fairfield heads to the Jersey Shore on Wednesday, April 4 to challenge Monmouth at 3 p.m. MAAC play returns to Rafferty Stadium the following Wednesday with a 3 p.m. visit from Quinnipiac as a part of the Stags' Lace Up With LAX game. The Stags will be collecting new children's sneakers (dark colors preferred) on Saturday to be donated to Operation Hope. For every pair of sneakers collected, Bombas will also donate a pair of children's socks to Operation Hope.