March 30, 2007
The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team returned to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Lacrosse League play with an 18-6 win at Iona College on Friday afternoon. The Stags improve to 5-5 overall and 2-0 in the league, while the Gaels fall to 4-3 on the year and 0-1 in MAAC play.
The 18 goals is the most the Stags have scored in a game since defeating Wagner 18-5 March 14, 2006. Fairfield has now scored 18 or more in eight games in the program's history, with the mist being 23, in a 23-2 win over Canisius, April 2, 2000.
The Stags are in first place in the MAAC, with the 2-0 record. Fairfield last opened MAAC play at 2-0 in 2003, on the way to the team's third consecutive perfect MAAC regular season.
The Stags scored first in the game as Amy Neville netted a goal 9:29 into the first half. The Gaels responded quickly, scoring 37 seconds later. Fairfield took control of the game at that point, scoring five straight goals in an 8:37 span, culminating with Abbey Goodwin's tally at the 10:08 mark. Iona scored twice at 9:35 and 8:34 to cut the deficit to 6-3. The Stags scored four goals in the final 5:52 of the half to take a 10-03 lead at the intermission.
Iona started the second half with two tallies to close back to within 10-5, but the Stags answered. Cristin Lucena tallied at the 17:23 mark and Rebecca White scored at 13:40 to push the Stags advantage back to seven goals. The Stags continued the run with three goals in a 68 second time span, as Erin Rigby (11:59), Neville (11:13), and Kylee Martin (10:51) scored goals.
Rookie Erin Rigby enjoyed perhaps the best game of her young career, notching four goals and recording two draw controls. White led the team with five points, tallying three goals and dishing out two assists. Sarah Masterson recorded three assists, while Martin finished with three goals and an assist. Neville netted three goals and caused four turnovers, while Goodwin scored twice for the Stags.
Lauren Chatnik played well again for the Stags, picking up her fifth win of the year, and the 10th of her career, fourth all-time at Fairfield. She made 13 saves, her sixth double-digit save game this year, and fourth in a row. She now has 30 saves in two MAAC wins, having posted a career-high tying 17 against Marist.
Fairfield out shot Iona 32-29 in the game, and picked up more ground balls, 26-13.
Iona had three players each score two goals in the game, and was led by the three points of Jillian Beck. Carlee Street took the loss in goals for Iona, allowing 14 goals, while making eight saves. Colleen Magri minded the net for the final 11:13, giving up four goals and making one save.
Fairfield returns MAAC Lacrosse League action on Sunday, April 1, hosting MAAC Lacrosse League foe Manhattan College. That game is set for 1 p.m. on Lessing Field.
