FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse scored the first six goals and never looked back in Friday's 2026 opener against visiting Rhode Island. Eight different Stags contributed to the scoring on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.
"We started a lot of young players and new players and, generally speaking, they were able to calm their jitters and produce," said Head Coach
Laura Field. "I think we still have a lot of work to do in terms of our consistency, in terms of our handling the ebbs and flows of a game with the new rules. The green cards play a huge factor. Being player-up or player-down and how we handle that will make a big difference. That's something that we need to improve."
The Stags' attack tallied six player-up goals, while URI was on the advantage for two of its tallies on the day.
Leading the scoring,
Tessa Caputo had five points comprised of two goals and three assists.
Mary Henry and MAAC Preseason Player of the Year
Kelly Haggerty each netted a hat trick with one assist for four points apiece.
Paige Gardner and
Haley Burns each scored twice,
Kyleigh Tufano added a goal, and
Charlotte Loughlin dished out an assist for her first career point.
In addition to her pair of goals,
Haley Burns controlled the midfield with three ground balls, three caused turnovers, and three draw controls. Gardner also had a pair of caused turnovers as a part of the Fairfield ride.
The Stags earned a 13-8 advantage on the restart. Fairfield's all-time draw control leader
Brynn Donnelly added six more to her career total. Working outside the circle, Burns and
Lila Berkery each won three draws to keep the Stags on the attack.
The defensive unit was led by
Katherine Shammas with a career-high six ground balls.
Whitney Robinson started in the cage in her Fairfield debut, making three saves with three goals allowed in the first half to record the win.
Keira Furey took over in the second half and made two saves.
Caputo started the scoring on they with a marker just 61 seconds in the game, staking the Stags to a lead that they would not relinquish. Fairfield also got goals from Burns, two for Haggerty, and one for Gardner to round out a 5-0 first quarter. Caputo struck again early in the second frame, getting her second of the day to extend the margin to 6-0 before the Rams got on the board.
In total, Rhode Island would score a trio of goals in the second period, with Henry getting one back for the Stags to send the hosts into the intermission with a 7-3 lead.
Henry and Haggerty went back-to-back to start the third quarter and rebuild a 9-3 cushion. URI added three more in the stanza but did not score again as the Stags posted a zero on the defensive side in the fourth quarter. On the offensive side of the field, Henry, Tufano, Burns, and Gardner each scored in the final frame to round out the decisive 13-6 final score.
Reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Caralie Basuel led URI with four goals. The Rams picked up four of their half-dozen tallies from the eight-meter arc.
The Stags' season-opening, three-game homestand continues Wednesday, Feb. 11 with a 3 p.m. visit from UConn. The Huskies, who finished 2025 with an 11-6 record, began their spring slate this afternoon with a 12-11 double overtime loss at Drexel.
Admission is free for all fans to all Fairfield Women's Lacrosse regular season home games this season.
