FAIRFIELD, Conn. – One run proved decisive on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday afternoon as visiting Holy Cross netted three-straight goals in the second half, then held off a late rally by Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse to claim a 10-8 decision. Diana DeVita, Monika Sivilli and Jillian Winwood each scored a pair of goals for the Stags in their 2020 season opener.
 
"I think we saw some of our inexperience out there today. Particularly in the second half, we committed a lot of unforced errors and, because of that, we just didn't have enough possessions" said Head Coach Laura Field. "The positive is that we have improved since our scrimmage last weekend, but the flipside of that is that we still have a long way to go."
 
Supplementing the two-goal outings for DeVita, Sivilli and Winwood were Meaghan Graham and Madeline Dent with one goal apiece. Winwood, Kelly Horning and Maggie Reynolds each doled out an assist for the Stags.
 
Horning also led the way in the midfield, collecting six ground balls. Maggie Fort added three ground balls and a team-leading four draw controls in her Stags debut. The Stags and Crusaders split the hustle categories with Fairfield holding a 24-18 lead in the ground balls while Holy Cross took an 11-8 edge on the draw.
 
In addition to her assist on the offensive end, Reynolds anchored the defense three caused turnovers and four ground balls. Olivia Conquest made eight saves in the cage.
 
Despite the back-and-forth action throughout, the Stags never led in the contest as Kara McDuffee and Jolie Creo netted the first two goals on the game for the visitors. The team's traded two-goal spurts as Sivilli and Winwood evened the score with unassisted tallies. After Creo and Bryn Carroll regained the lead for the Crusaders, Sivilli and Winwood went back-to-back again to knot the score at 4-4 midway through the first half.
 
Carroll capped the Holy Cross scoring for the half with her second of the day, and the Stags answered as Reynolds went the length of the field before connecting with Dent to send the contest into the half tied at 5-5.
 
The statemate held until 6-6, at which point the Crusaders began the stretch that would decide the game. Holy Cross potted the game's next three goals – two from Creo and one by Carroll – to open up a 9-6 lead.
 
In total, the Stags were held off the board for more than 18 minutes of game time before DeVita found the back of the net – finishing a pass from Winwood – to cut the deficit to 9-7 with 6:42 to play. Graham added a free-position shot to make it a 9-8 contest with 2:57 to go.
 
However, Holy Cross won the ensuing draw and maintained possession for more than two minutes before Carroll scored her fourth of the day to bring the margin to 10-8 in the final minute of action.
 
Creo and Carroll finished with four goals apiece for the Crusaders. Grace Flink earned the decision in the cage with 10 saves.
 
Up next, the Stags hit the road for the first time in 2020 on Wednesday, Feb. 12 for a 3 p.m. clash at UConn. The Huskies will be opening their 2020 season against Fairfield.
 
Action returns to Rafferty Stadium on the following Wednesday, Feb. 19, when the Stags host Columbia at 3 p.m.