FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A first career-hat trick by Grace Slater highlighted a group of six Stags to make their way onto the scoresheet, but the visiting Purple Eagles came away with a narrow 11-10 decision over the Fairfield University women's lacrosse team Saturday afternoon.

Slater was one of three players with a hat-trick in the frame with Libby Rowe being the other tallying a trio of assists. Elizabeth Talluto, Maggie Fort, and Ellie Grefenstette each drilled a pair and Olivia Doody added a goal and an assist. Defensively, Julia Rigolizzo and Fort had four ground balls each part of 22 as a team, and Caroline Mangan paced the draw with five. Lindsay Barnes once again led the way forcing three turnovers by Niagara and in the cage, Casey Collins made eight saves to keep her side in the game throughout a cold and rainy second half.

A slightly overcast opening to the game saw Fairfield find its footing early with the first three goals of the contest, all within the opening 3:56 of the game to take an early lead. After Niagara added one back the Stags would end the frame with another score of Slater's second of the day to take a 4-1 lead after one.

In the second, the Stags would net the first two scores early once again before back-to-back goals by the Purple Eagles made it 6-3 late in the opening half. To close the half Fairfield would close on a goal by Talluto off Rowe's third helper in the game to take a four-goal lead into the break.

A closely-contested game saw a sudden batch of heavy rain sweep over the field in the latter half, and Niagara would net the first four goals to start the second half, before a pair of goals by Slater and Fort 30 seconds apart from free-position gave the Stags the lead. The Purple Eagles would score with three seconds to go in the period, and go on two net a pair in the closing stages of the fourth to take the win.

Fairfield women's lacrosse will look to bounce back Wednesday when they head to Manhattan for the penultimate game of the regular season against the Jaspers from Riverdale, N.Y.