NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Opening the conference season 1-0 with a win in the midweek Fairfield University women's lacrosse returns to action this weekend as they kickoff a three-game homestand against Marist. Opening draw between the Stags and the Red Foxes is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Saturday from Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium and broadcast live on ESPN3 with JJ Duke on the call.
STAGS SCOUTING REPORT
Following an impressive 5-3 non-conference slate that doesn't tell the full story for the Stags in 2023, Fairfield opened the MAAC season Wednesday with a 15-9 victory over Iona on the road. The win gives the squad four now in their last five matches after starting the season 2-2.
Opponents face a tall task across the field when they take on Fairfield this season, as the team enters play once again amongst the top-50 schools in the nation in numerous statistical categories including a number of individuals in the midst of career seasons. As one of the top scoring offenses in the nation, the Stags enter Wednesday 26th amongst all Division I schools, scoring 13.67 goals per game and slot 29th in the country for margin of victory at 3.33.while also averaging 5.88 assists per game which currently slots 30th in the country. From free position, Fairfield sits ninth amongst all DI teams, scoring on those chances at a 55% clip. Libby Rowe paces the offense with 36 points including 20 goals, while her 16 assists place her in a tie for 46th in the country to highlight a plethora of top national statistics for the squad on both sides of the field.
On the defensive end, the Stags are 36th nationwide in scoring defense allowing just over 10 goals per game and currently stand fifth in the nation in caused turnovers per game, forcing an average of 11.33 per contest. They also sit near the top of the tables at 29th in the country with 14.89 draw controls per game while slotting 34th in the nation in draw control percentage at .540. Defensively, Lindsey Barnes leads the team and stands 12th in the nation with 2.22 caused turnovers per game and Rylee Harrell tops the draw totals for the Stags and is another player atop the national rankings, slotting 39th in the nation at 5.11 draw controls per game.
NCAA Statistics are as of Mar. 29, 2023
SCOUTING THE MARIST RED FOXES
After garnering two wins early in the non-conference slate, Marist enters the weekend at 2-8 on the year still seeking its first win in league play after losses to Quinnipiac and Siena on the road in the last seven days. Kelly Trotta leads the Red Foxes' offense coming in with 40 points on the year from 27 goals and 13 assists, followed by Kerri Gutenberger who leads the team with 36 points, double the player with next most points, that being Olivia Arntsen. Defensively Trotta leads Marist with 18 ground balls, one of five players with 10 or more and also leads in caused turnovers, forcing 12. On the draw Caitlin McNaboe has a team-best 36 draw controls, followed by Gutenberger with 26 and Delaney Hayes with 24.
CONFERENCE SUPERLATIVES
After a stellar performance in a pair of games, Fairfield University women's lacrosse senior Lindsey Barnes was named the MAAC defensive player of the week as announced by the league office last month. The award for the Malvern, Pa. native marks the first of her career as the first Stag to claim a women's lacrosse weekly honor this season, just three weeks into the campaign.
Barnes was a force on defense for the Stags, causing a career-high eight turnovers by UAlbany players, the most by any player in a Division I game this season. She also collected six ground balls in the road performance against the Great Danes, before causing two turnovers and collecting a single draw control in the win over Hofstra.
SURPASSING THE CENTURY MARK
Rylee Harrell in Wednesday's win over Iona surpassed 100 draw controls for her career and has already surpassed a single-season best mark with 46 draws already this season to pace the team.
In addition, three members of the Stags' offense have surpassed 100 goals for their career during the 2023 campaign with the newest member of the club, Elizabeth Talluto adding her name to the group as part of her 21-goal total coming into this weekend. Back in the first road game of the year at UConn, Libby Rowe joined the Fairfield women's lacrosse 100-point list for her career after a career-high six-goal performance against the Huskies. In addition to Rowe's achievement, classmate Ellie Grefenstette eclipsed the century point plateau herself at UAlbany, registering multiple points in the contest.
PRESEASON PRIZES
Given their dominance, particularly in the MAAC postseason, it's no surprise that the Stags were once again picked as the favorites to win the conference championship as voted on by the league's nine head coaches. Fairfield earned seven of nine first-place votes to top out the poll and placed three players on the all-preseason roster. Amongst the trio of honorees was Talluto, as well as LaVista, and Mangan, a testament to the Stags' strength at all positions heading into the season.
All-in-all the Stags garnered seven of the nine total first-place votes in the poll and received a total of 78 points to top out the standings. MAAC newcomers Mount St. Mary's place tied for second in the poll alongside Siena who both placed with 68 points and received one of the two remaining top bids. In fourth slotted Niagara which earned 51 points before another slight drop in points to the fifth spot with Canisius who totaled 39. Iona placed sixth in the poll, followed by Manhattan, Marist, and Quinnipiac to round out the nine-team MAAC contingent.
DOWN THE ROAD
Fairfield women's lacrosse continues its homestand on Wednesday when they return to campus for an in-state showdown against Quinnipiac. First serve between the Stags and the Bobcats is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
