FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse fell behind 2-0 to visiting Rider in the early stages of Saturday's MAAC meeting on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. But the Stags poured in the game's next seven goals and never looked back en route to a 17-7 victory. Amanda Kozak led the Fairfield offense with three goals and a career-best six assists.
 
With the win, the Stags improved to 4-6 on the season and move to 2-0 in the MAAC. Rider slips to 4-6 on the year with an 0-2 conference tally.
 
"We had the kind of balance we're looking for on offense. Obviously, Kozak was outstanding with nine points, but she wasn't forcing it and having nine different players score with 13 assisted goals is the style that we're looking to play," said Head Coach Laura Field. "And defensively, some of their top offensive players got their points, but we did a good job as a team to make them work and never find the rhythm they were looking for."
 
Kozak's six assists and nine total points both land one shy of the Fairfield single-game records. Kristina Sullivan had a 10-point day in a 1998 win over Marist and Jessica Jordan distributed seven assists in a victory over Le Moyne in 1999.
 
In today's game, Kozak paced a balanced attack that also saw Grace Slater score four goals to run her team-leading total to 27 markers. Brooke Marotti had a hat trick with three assists for a six-point day, and the duo of Haley Burns and Kelly Haggerty each scored twice. Mary Henry, Kyleigh Tufano and Katie Bergen added one goal apiece.
 
In addition to Kozak's six assists and the trio served up by Marotti, Fairfield got two assists from Tessa Caputo and one apiece by Henry and Katherine Shammas, who notched her first career point with a transition helper.
 
Fairfield kept the offensive pressure on with a 16-11 advantage on the draw. Brynn Donnelly pulled down 11 draw controls to pace the effort.
 
Defensively, Keira Furey made eight saves in the cage. Eva Petrone and Macey Daly headed the unit in front of her with two caused turnovers apiece. Daly, Shammas and Delaney Brimhall each gathered three ground balls.
 
Katie Walsh set the tone for Rider with a hat trick, three draw controls and four ground balls.
 
Fairfield Women's Lacrosse remains at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium to host Quinnipiac on Wednesday, April 2 at 3 p.m. The Bobcats are 5-5 overall and 0-2 in the MAAC after a 14-11 home loss to Sacred Heart this afternoon.
 
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Women's Lacrosse regular season home games this season.