March 24, 2007
The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team started Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Lacrosse League play with a 15-14 win over visiting Marist College on Saturday. The Stags improve to 4-5 overall and 1-0 in league play, while the Red Foxes drop to 2-3 on the year and 0-1 in conference action.
The Stags took a 13-8 lead on a Sarah Masterson goal with 19:34 to play in the game, but the Red Foxes would answer with three straight, including two from Liz Falco, to cut the lead to 13-11 with 13:45 to play. Amy Neville ended the run with a goal at the 13:24 mark, however Lindsey Diener answered with back-to-back goals with 9:01 and 8:52 to play, to bring Marist back within a goal, 14-13.
After seven scoreless minutes, Neville gave the Stags an insurance goal that they would need, scoring unassisted at 1:44 to make the lead 15-13. Ali Carnabuci would score 29 seconds later for the Red Foxes, but the Stags would not allow Marist to force the tie, and earned the 15-14 victory.
Fairfield goalkeeper Lauren Chatnik was spectacular in goal making 17 saves on the day. The save total equaled her career-high, which game against Canisius in the 2006 MAAC Semifinals. Liz Burkhard minded the net in the first half for Marist, allowing 10 goals and making just four saves. Kyle Jansky was in goal in the second half, making six saves, and allowing only five goals.
Neville paced the Stags offense with four goals on the afternoon. Kylee Martin had three goals, while Erin Rigby and Kristen Ryan, who also had one assist, each scored twice. Rebecca White had a goal and two assists for three points.
Falco led all scorers touching net six times in the game. Carnabuci had two goals, as did Diener, who also added an assist.
Fairfield won 16 of 31 draw controls in the game, including two from Sarah Masterson. That tied Masterson with Kristina Sullivan as the Stags all-time leader in draw controls, with 116.
Fairfield returns to action on Friday, traveling to Iona for a MAAC Lacrosse League contest at 3 p.m.
