FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse maintained its position atop the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 13-12 win over visiting Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon at Rafferty Stadium. The Stags got points from eight different players in the outing, including Taylor Mitchell's 100th career goal.
 
With its sixth-straight win, Fairfield improves to 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the MAAC. The Stags officially clinched a berth in the 2019 MAAC Championship with the victory in addition to locking up their 12th campaign in program history with 10 or more wins. Monmouth falls to 9-5 on the season with a 3-2 conference tally.
 
Mitchell netted two goals this afternoon to become the 13th Stag to reach 100 career markers. Her 105 career points to date slot her at 21st in program history.
 
In today's game, Kelly Horning and Diana DeVita led the offense with four points apiece. Horning tallied her third hat trick of the campaign to go along with one assist, while DeVita scored two goals and distributed a pair of helpers.
 
Brooke Gallagher added a goal and an assist this afternoon to reach 50 points on the season. She is the 26th Stag to reach the 50-point mark, fueled by 23 assists this spring to rank seventh on Fairfield's single-season charts. Gallagher's goal today stood up as the game-winner.
 
Mitchell and Gallagher were two of the four Stags to post two points on the day. Jillian Winwood added a pair of free-position goals and Meaghan Graham scored a goal with an assist. Rounding out the attack was Kelly Gordon with her sixth assist of the season.
 
Fairfield's swarming defense effort pressured the MAAC's most potent offense into 18 turnovers. Kennedy Slater and Megan Beach picked up three caused turnovers apiece, with the quartet of Horning, Mitchell, Maggie Reynolds and Caroline Mangan each forcing two Monmouth giveaways.
 
Reynolds also led the way in the midfield with four draw controls. Her efforts on the draw including winning the two of the final three restarts, both when the Hawks had cut the Fairfield lead to a single goal.
 
In the cage, Olivia Conquest made eight saves and picked up four ground balls. Her 10th win makes her the sixth Stag to win double-digit games in a single-season in goal. She is only the third Stag to reach 10 wins in her first active campaign protecting the Fairfield cage.
 
Monmouth was led by four goals from Rachel Mills and a two-goal, two-assist day from Nicole Ceraso. Riley Brager made eight stops for the Hawks in goal.
 
Another tall order awaits this Stags this Saturday, April 13, when Fairfield visits Siena for a 3 p.m. contest. The surprising Saints are in the midst of a turnaround campaign, as they moved to 9-5 overall and 5-1 in MAAC – one season removed from posting a 1-7 mark in league play – with an 11-7 win today at Quinnipiac.