FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fueled by its highest-scoring offensive effort of the season, Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse outslugged visiting Marist, 18-14, on Thursday afternoon on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium to advance to the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship Game. The Stags will meet Siena on Saturday at noon with the conference crown on the line.
 
With today's semifinal win, Fairfield moves to 14-3 and runs its winning streak to 10 consecutive games. Marist ends its 2019 campaign with a record of 8-10.
 
The Stags' 18-goal output was led by Brooke Gallagher, who rattled the cage a career-high seven times. The All-MAAC First Team attacker also dished out her 32nd assist of the spring to match her career- and season-best of eight points.
 
Gallagher's effort today continues a stellar final campaign as she is now tied for sixth in Fairfield single-season history with 73 points (41 goals, 32 assists).
 
Meaghan Graham also logged a career day for the offense with two goals and a personal-best five assists, while All-MAAC Second Team midfielder Kathleen Hulseman set a new individual standard with five goals. All-MAAC First Teamer Kelly Horning added two goals, including the marker the stood as the game-winner, with Diana DeVita and Taylor Mitchell recording one apiece. DeVita also handed out a career-high three assists.
 
In the midfield, Fairfield faced a tall task in Marist's Hailey Wagner, who broke the NCAA Division I single-season record with 10 draw controls to run her 2019 total to 224. The Stags were edged, 18-15, on the restart but held their own against Wagner. Erin Mammele – Fairfield's all-time leader on the draw – hauled in four with Gallagher and Mangan each coming away with three draw controls. Horning added three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
 
"Kara (McHugh) did a great job preparing our draw 'crew' – not just the player taking the draw but everybody around her as well," said Head Coach Laura Field. "I think our ability to win draws took them out of their comfort zone and gave us a little breathing room."
 
Mammele also helped guide the defensive effort with four ground balls, and All-MAAC Second Team defender Maggie Reynolds collected three. 2019 MAAC Defender of the Year Megan Beach was charged with slowing Samantha Mehalick, who scored 11 goals in the Red Foxes' First Round win at Manhattan. While Mehalick finished with seven tallies, five came from the eight-meter arc as Beach slowed the All-MAAC First Team attacker in the open field.
 
"I think our upperclassmen were phenomenal today, especially in the clutch," noted Field. "It wasn't just the ones who scored the goals, by Erin on the draw and Beach on defense were outstanding."
 
In the cage, Olivia Conquest made 10 saves to earn the win. Her 14th victory of the spring sets a new Fairfield record for a first-year goalkeeper.
 
Behind Mehalick's seven goals for Marist, Devon Connolly netted a hat trick and Kelly George scored a pair. Delaney Galvin made six saves in goal for the Red Foxes.
 
Fairfield (will be playing for its fifth MAAC Championship on Saturday – and looking to go back-to-back for the first time – and will make its 10th appearance in the title game. Siena, which rallied to top Monmouth by a 16-15 count today, advances to its second MAAC Championship Game in search of its first-ever league title.
 
Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now. Admission is free for Fairfield University students, faculty and staff (please bring a StagCard). The action will also be broadcast live by the Stags Sports Network and the MAAC on ESPN+ with J.J. Duke and Allison Gaskins on the call.