FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse captured the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship with a 17-12 win over visiting Iona this afternoon on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. The Stags got seven points from Brooke Gallagher as a part of their highest-scoring offensive output of the season en route to locking up their 12th MAAC regular season crown.
 
With its eighth straight win, Fairfield (12-3, 7-0 MAAC) will be the top seed and host of the 2019 MAAC Championship on May 2-4. The Stags last host MAAC Championship Weekend in 2005, when hosting rights were granted to a predetermined site rather than the top seed.
 
The Stags second straight MAAC Regular Season Championship is also the program's first outright regular season title since 2012
 
"Hosting the MAAC Championship was one of the goals for this team, and it's a testament to how hard our players have worked this season," said Head Coach Laura Field. "But, as we well know, we still need to take care of business come tournament time. Home field advantage doesn't give you everything."
 
Fairfield won the 2018 MAAC Championship at Marist's Tenney Stadium last May. The Stags' only MAAC Championship captured on their home field came in 2001 when Fairfield hoisted the trophy on University Field.
 
In today's effort, Gallagher's seven-point performance, which was comprised of four goals and three assists, included the 100th point of her career. She is the 24th Stag to reach 100 career points and the third to accomplish the feat this season, joining Kathleen Hulseman and Taylor Mitchell.
 
On the single-season charts, Gallagher moved into 10th in program history with 59 points this spring. Her 27 assists in 2019 tie Kristen Coleman for second place on the single-season list.
 
Jillian Winwood added four points against Iona today with a hat trick and one assist. Hulseman, Mitchell, Cameryn Dera and Meaghan Graham each netted a pair of goals, with Kelly Horning and Diana DeVita both scoring one.
 
Led by Gallagher's three helpers, Fairfield distributed a helper on eight of its 17 tallies. Horning had a pair of assists with Winwood, Hulseman and DeVita each picking up one.
 
The action in the midfield saw Nicollette LaVista have a career day on the draw with six draw controls. Horning and Maggie Reynolds each hauled in four restarts. Horning, Reynolds, Graham, Kennedy Slater and Erin Mammele each added a pair of ground balls, while Hulseman led all players with five.
 
The defensive effort featured two caused turnovers apiece for Horning and Caroline Mangan as the Stags' pressured Iona into 13 turnovers.
 
In the cage, Olivia Conquest made seven saves to secure her 12th win of the spring.
 
Iona (1-15, 0-7 MAAC) was led by a hat trick and two assists from Madi Kochanek, with Caton Brisbin adding two goals and two assists along with six draw controls. Shannon McCaffrey went the distance in goal and picked up 10 saves.
 
Fairfield wraps up the regular season this Saturday, April 20 on Senior Day at Rafferty Stadium. The Stags' five-member senior class will be recognized at approximately 11:45 a.m. prior to a noon opening draw against Canisius.
 
More information about the 2019 MAAC Championship hosted by Fairfield University will be available at FairfieldStags.com as it is finalized by the conference office.