WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – A late 5-0 run for host Monmouth was the difference on Wednesday afternoon in New Jersey as Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse was on the short side of a 14-11 margin. Erin Mammele set a new program record for career draw controls after hauling in nine in today's outing to boost her career tally to 176.
 
Mammele's 176 draw controls surpass the 170 collected by Riley Heillstein '17. She has also pulled down a team-best 82 draw controls this season, four shy of her own single-season program mark of 86 established last spring. Mammele also holds the Fairfield single-game record with 11 draw controls – a total attained in back-to-back outings earlier this season.
 
Fairfield (6-5, 2-1 MAAC) was led offensively by four goals from Olivia Russell. The Stags' leader with 26 markers on the season, Russell also scored four goals in Fairfield's last game – a 13-10 win over Niagara last Thursday at Rafferty Stadium. Kathleen Hulseman had a five-point day, scoring two late goals in addition to matching her career high with three assists. Jillian Winwood added four points with two goals and the second two-assist game of her rookie campaign. Taylor Mitchell scored a pair of goals and Kelly Horning netted one.
 
Rounding out the attack, Brenna Connolly dished out her team-leading 20th assist of the spring. She is the fourth Stag in program history to distribute 20 or more assists in back-to-back campaigns after distributing 25 helpers in 2017. For her career, Connolly ranks third all-time in program annals with 59 assists.
 
In the midfield this afternoon, Horning and Winwood each collected three ground balls as the Stags led the Hawks, 26-20, in that category. In addition to Mammele's nine draw controls, Horning reeled in three, Winwood had two and Lily Crager collected one.
 
Paulina DiFatta protected the cage and made eight saves. The defense is front of her was led by four ground balls and two caused turnovers from Katie FitzPatrick, as well as a pair of ground balls and two caused turnovers created by Maggie Reynolds.
 
Alexa Smith scored five goals to lead Monmouth (4-8, 2-1 MAAC). Caroline Corbliss also netted a hat trick for the Hawks, while Jenny Staines filled out her statline with two goals, an assist and six draw controls. Riley Brager earned the win in the cage with 11 saves.
 
The squads traded goals for much of Wednesday's outing before the Stags put together a 3-0 run to surge in front, 9-8, midway through the second half. The stretch featured one goal by Winwood and back-to-back tallies out of the crosse of Russell. However, Monmouth responded with five straight tallies to claim a 13-9 lead with 8:55 to play. Hulseman scored two late goals to spark a late rally, but the Hawks would tack on an insurance marker with 1:43 left to round out the final count at 14-11 in favor of the hosts.
 
MAAC play returns to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium next Wednesday, April 11, with a 3 p.m. visit from Quinnipiac as a part of the Stags' Lace Up With LAX initiative. The Stags will be collecting new children's sneakers (dark colors preferred) 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.
 
The Bobcats, who will host Marist on Saturday, are currently 5-6 overall and 1-2 in the MAAC after a 9-7 loss to Iona this afternoon in Hamden.