FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Three days after their shortest road trip of the season, Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse embarks on the longest trek of the campaign with a Saturday visit to Niagara. Opening draw in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contest is slated for noon.
 
Last Time Out
Fairfield kept host Quinnipiac off the board for a stretch of more than 21 minutes in the second half of Wednesday's MAAC opener. The Stags' attack went on to score for goals during that span and fought off a late charge by the Bobcats to claim a 9-8 decision over their in-state conference foe. Kelly Horning and Meaghan Graham each netted hat tricks to pace the offense.
  
Horning's three-goal outing was her third career hat trick. The sophomore, who was a MAAC All-Rookie Team and All-Championship Team selection last spring, filled out her statline today with five ground balls, four caused turnovers and two draw controls. Horning had missed Fairfield's last six outings due to injury.
 
Graham picked up a hat trick for the fifth time as a Stag, while Brooke Gallagher added a pair of goals and Jillian Winwood scored one. Facilitating the attack were Gallagher, Diana DeVita and Kathleen Hulseman with one assist apiece.
 
Maggie Reynolds created the turnover – her third of the day – and scooped up the ground ball that sealed the game in the final minute as a part of her standout effort on the Fairfield backline. Olivia Conquest added eight saves to secure her sixth victory of the season in the cage.

Scouting Niagara
Most recently on the short side of a 16-5 loss at #8 Michigan, Niagara is 3-7 overall and 0-1 in the MAAC entering Saturday's game. The Purple Eagles' lone conference outing thus far was a 13-12 home loss to Monmouth last Saturday.
 
Niagara is led by an all-around effort from Rachel MacCheyne. The 2018 All-MAAC First Team selection has a team-leading 36 goals and 40 total points along with 91 draw controls. Caroline Crump, who was an All-MAAC Second Team pick last spring, adds 20 goals and a team-best 12 assists for the Purple Eagles.
 
Time in the cage has been shared by two rookie goalkeepers. Maren Geiger has started all nine contests, accumulating 345:54 of action en route to a 13.88 goals-against average and a .470 save percentage with 80 goals allowed and 71 saves.
 
Michelle Messenger has made eight appearances totaling 184:58 in goal. She currently sports a 12.98 goals-against average and .467 save percentage with 40 goals allowed and 35 stops.

All-Time Series (Fairfield leads 21-1)
Last season's 13-10 win at Rafferty Stadium was the third straight for the Stags over the Purple Eagles and ran the all-time series to 21-1 in favor of Fairfield. Niagara's lone victory on the slate was a 9-7 decision in 2016, which the Stags avenged the following week with a 9-7 win of their own in the MAAC Championship First Round.
 
Up Next
MAAC action comes to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium for the first time on Wednesday, April 3, with a visit from Manhattan. The 3 p.m. contest will be broadcast live by the Stags Sports Network on ESPN3.
 
The surprising Jaspers are 7-3 – already their highest single-season win total since 2009 – and 2-0 in the MAAC with home wins over Canisius and Marist. Manhattan visits Siena this Saturday prior to its midweek visit to Rafferty Stadium.