NIAGARA, N.Y. – A pair of late goals by Fairfield University women's lacrosse sent Saturday's game against Niagara to overtime, but the Purple Eagles struck first in sudden death, as the Stags fell 11-10.
Seven different players found the back of the net in the contest, including a trio of players who netted hat tricks in Amanda Kozak, Rylee Harrell, and Libby Rowe, while Elizabeth Tallutp led the team in points with a single goal along with a pair of assists. Defensively, co-captain Kelly Horning paced the team with four ground balls, and Nicollette LaVista led the draw control marks with four, tied with Harrell. Co-captain Caroline Mangan and four other players forced two turnovers each by Purple Eagles players.
Niagara opened the contest with the first three goals, and held the Stags off the board until Rowe netted a goal on the player-up advantage to bring her side within two after 15 minutes of play. In the second quarter, the Purple Eagles struck first with a free position goal, Kozak answered back for Fairfield less than a minute later. The defenses then kept both sides off the board for more than five minutes, before the home side scored once again. The Stags countered 27 seconds later with a goal by Talluto, before the teams exchanged one more goal each to head into the locker room with Fairfield trailing 6-4.
A defensive stand to open the second half saw just over nine minutes of scoreless action before Kozak and Ellie Grefenstette scored back-to-back goals for the Stags just 31 seconds apart to level the game at six. Niagara would have the final say in the frame, scoring with 14 seconds left to take a one goal lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Purple Eagles doubled their advantage with a goal to open the fourth, but Rowe notched her second score of the day 29 seconds later to put the Stags back within one, before Harrell rattled the back of the cage with just over nine minutes to play. Niagara would net back to back goals to reestablish the lead, but goals by Harrell and Horning in the final 2:06 of regulation sent the teams to overtime squared at 10. In the overtime frame Niagara would capture the opening draw, before finding the back of the net on the initial possession, and taking the match 11-10.
Fairfield women's lacrosse is back in action Wednesday when they return to the Nutmeg State to take Manhattan. Opening draw between the Stags and the Jaspers is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. from Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.
