The Fairfield University women's golf team opened its season this weekend with a ninth place finish at the Dartmouth Women' Invitational in Hanover, N.H.  The Stags shot a two-day team 680, in an event won by Harvard with a team score of 603.  Fairfield finished four strokes ahead of Amherst College and Holy Cross, and defeated Boston University by eight strokes.

The two-day event was played at Hanover Country Club, which played 5,805-yard on both days, at par-72.

Alicia Esposito was the Stags top finisher in the event, finishing tied for 19^th with a two-day 164. The sophomore shot back-to-back rounds of 82.

Newcomer Kristen MacDonald was the next finisher for Fairfield, tying for 23^rd place at +21, 165.  After opening with a round of 85, MacDonald shot a team-best round of 80 on Sunday.  Classmate Annie Sperandio shot 88-88 for a two-day 176, good for 48^th place at the event.

Caroline Hoey, another of the Stags rookies, shot 95 on the first day, placing her in 66^th place.  She rebounded well in the second round, shooting an 86, to finish at 181, good for a tie for 56^th place.  Krista Duval rounded out the Stags effort.  She shot a solid 86 on the first day, and finished tied for 66^th at 195.

The women are back in action this coming weekend at the Mt. Holyoke Invitational in South Hadley, Mass, Sept. 21-23.