SETTING THE TABLE
Fairfield University women's lacrosse heads back out on the road following a one game home stand, making a trip down to New York to take on Wagner. Opening draw between the Stags and the Seahawks is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
FIELD'S REPORT
"One of the big takeaways from the UConn game is that we've got to clean things up, and that's what we've worked on and talked about over the last couple of days," said Head Coach Laura Field. "We were very worried to make mistakes and sometimes we got caught hanging our heads after a turnover or mistake. To beat a very strong Wagner team this weekend, we've got to play harder, cleaner and faster than we did on Wednesday."
HISTORY VS WAGNER
In a series that dates back to the inception of Fairfield women's lacrosse, the two sides will go toe-to-toe for the 10th time, as this Saturday for only the second time since the 2008 season. The Stags lead the all-time series 8-1, with Wagner earning its only victory in the matchup the last time the two teams faced off in 2019, a 15-13 win for the Seahawks on the road. Fairfield took all eight of its wins prior to that date, and will look to return to the win column, having earned the last win over their Empire State foe the meeting prior, back in 2008, a 25-11 thrashing by the Stags in Staten Island.
LAST TIME OUT
The Stags never trailed by more than three goals in the game, but a pair of scores late proved to be the difference as Fairfield University women's lacrosse fell to No. 23 UConn 12-10 in Wednesday's home opener at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Elizabeth Talluto paced the Stags offensive effort, contributing five points on the day for Fairfield, who sit at 1-1 on the year heading into the second weekend of the regular season.
Talluto and Amanda Kozak each scored a hat-trick against the Huskies to lead the scoring, with Rylee Harrell also netting a pair of goals. Libby Rowe scored a goal in addition to leading the offense with three assists, followed by two from Talluto and a trio of Stags who each provided one helper in the contest, including Kelly Horning who also scored once in the game.
Defensively, Nicollette LaVista led the efforts in the center circle collecting nine draw controls, while Phoebe Procter gathered a team-best five ground balls while also making 12 saves between the posts in a full 60 minutes of work. Elizabeth Myers and Julia Rigolizzo also scooped up four ground balls apiece, and Rigolizzo joined Horning and Lindsey Barnes in forcing a combined six turnovers by the Huskies.
SCOUTING THE STAGS
2021 MAAC Midfielder of the Year Kelly Horning leads the Stags into 2022 as she returns for her graduate season. An all-around threat Horning led the team with 37 goals, while also finishing atop the stat sheet in draw controls, (55), ground balls (45), and forced turnovers (28).
Horning is joined on offense alongside Ellie Grefenstette who netted 31 goals last season, and Diana Devita who scored 22 goals and led the team with 22 helpers as well. Defensively, Nicole LaVista finished second on the team last year with 51 draw controls. Goalkeeper Olivia Conquest returns for Fairfield after starting all 15 matches between the pipes last season, posting a 13-1 record, .463 save percentage, and 10.78 goals against average.
SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
Saturday marks first home game of the season for Wagner and just their second game of the year after dropping last week's opener at #17 Drexel 18-7. Madeline Seims scored for goals in that game, leading a group of four Seahawks to reach the back of the net against the Dragons.
Last season Megan Greco led the team scoring 40 goals, while playing in all 15 matches for Wagner last season. Second in goals, and first in the assist column, Erin Kerstetter reached the back of the net 37 times while also dishing out 39 helpers to tally a team-high 76 points. Defensively, Kasey Dorney controlled the 90 draws to pace the team ahead of Kerstetter's 55. Dorney scooped up a team-best 49 ground balls, and also forced 36 turnovers, also the highest mark of any Seahawk in 2021. In goal Lauren DiStefano earned the decision in all 15 contests, making 120 saves and posting a 9.45 goals against average and a .467 save percentage.
HORNING SETS PROGRAM RECORD FOR GROUND BALLS
With a ground ball in the first half of a Feb. 16 meeting with UConn, Kelly Horning collected the 170th ground ball of her career, passing Mary Tortora for the all-time record at Fairfield University.
STAGS EARN TOP SPOT IN MAAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
With less than two weeks before the season opener for Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced the results of the 2022 Preseason Coaches' Poll, with the Stags tabbed to finish atop the conference standings once again.
The three-time defending MAAC champions, Fairfield took home 77 overall points in the poll, including six first-place nods, finishing just ahead of 2019 and 2021Â runner-up Siena with 75 points and the remaining three votes. Monmouth, Niagara, and Quinnipiac round out the top five, followed by Marist, Canisius, Manhattan, and Iona who make up No. 6 through No. 9 in the poll.
HORNING NAMED MAAC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
In addition to the Coaches' poll, Kelly Horning was named the 2022 Preseason Player of the Year, after leading the team with 37 goals last season. Horning and Caroline Mangan were selected as Preseason All-MAAC.
Horning's preseason nod comes as she returns to the Stags for a fifth-year after garnering MAAC Midfielder of the Year honors following the 2021 regular season and has made the All-MAAC First-Team squad in each of the last two seasons.
Mangan was the 2021 MAAC Championship MVP after racking up eight caused turnover in the Stags' run to the title. She was also an All-MAAC Second Team honoree, compiling 18 caused turnovers and 14 ground balls while often charged with marking one of the opposition's top attackers.
SEASON SNAPSHOT
The 2022 schedule includes 16 dates overall, including seven games within the friendly confines of Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. The first half of the schedule features matchups from five different conferences before an eight-game MAAC slate as the Stags look to claim their fourth consecutive conference championship.
LOOKING AHEAD
Fairfield women's lacrosse is back in action Wednesday, Feb. 23 when the Stags return home to host Boston College. Opening draw is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.
