FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse opened the MAAC portion of the 2026 slate with a meeting of the conference's top two defenses as the Siena Saints came to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium for a Saturday tilt. In a contest that was tied 6-6 entering the fourth quarter, the host Stags put together a 5-1 final frame to surge to an 11-7 victory.
 
With the win, the Stags improve to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the MAAC. Siena suffers its fourth straight loss after a 5-0 start, standing at 5-4 on the season with an 0-1 conference mark.
 
"Credit to our defense as a unit. That was an excellent 60-minute effort. And credit to Siena as well; they're a well-coached team and their defense was as tough as advertised," said Head Coach Laura Field. "We felt going in that the winning team would need to get to around 10 goals. Every goal is important in a game like that, but Kelly [Haggerty] and Tessa [Caputo] really stepped up to lead our offense and get us across the finish line in the fourth quarter."
 
Haggerty posted three of her four points in the fourth quarter, finishing with a hat trick and one assist. Caputo had a goal and an assist in the final frame en route to two tallies and two helpers on the day. Sara MacLeod added a three-point day with two goals and an assist, and Kyleigh Tufano scored a pair of player-up goals.
 
Rounding out the attack, Haley Burns and Paige Gardner each posted one goal and one assist, and Charlotte Loughlin distributed two goals.
 
The defense was headed by three caused turnovers and three ground balls for Katherine Shammas. Burns posted two caused turnovers from the defensive midfield, and Lizzie Getz picked up four grounders. As a unit, Fairfield's defense has held opponents under 10 goals in all six of its victories.
 
Caputo and Loughlin also kept Fairfield on the attack with three ground balls apiece as the Stags nearly doubled-up the Saints in that column, 23-12.
 
Fairfield also gained a 12-8 edge on the restart, guided by five draw controls apiece for Brynn Donnelly at the dot and Lila Berkery working from outside the circle.
 
Siena was led by two goals from Koehler Nieman. McAllister Salter made nine saves in the Saints' goal.
 
Fairfield Women's Lacrosse returns to action on Wednesday, March 25 for a trip across town to meet Sacred Heart at 3 p.m. The Pioneers are 2-6 on the season after opening their MAAC ledger with a 5-4 win today at Iona.