April 11, 2007
The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team dropped its final non-conference game of the season, 14-9, to The College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday on Lessing Field. The Stags fall to 5-8 on the year, while the Crusaders improve to 9-4.
The Crusaders struck for the first three goals of the game, taking a 3-0 lead with 23:52 to play in the first half. The Stags responded with two goals of their own. Katie von Hoffmann converted a free-position shot at 23:22 and Ashley Chappell scored unassisted at 22:16 to make it 3-2.
Neither team would score for nearly 14 minutes, until the Crusaders touched net with 8:26 left in the half. That goal was the first of four unanswered to end the half, up 7-2. Holy Cross scored first in the second half, for an 8-2 advantage, before Cristin Lucena scored at the 28:17 mark to snap the Stags scoreless streak. The teams traded goals at 21:10 and 16:26, for a 9-4 Holy Cross edge. The Crusaders scored five straight goals from the 11:58 mark until the last with 1:57 to play for a 14-4 advantage.
The Stags responded and made a furious closing rally. Von Hoffmann scored her second at 1:35, the first of five Stag goals in 65 seconds. Chappell netted a Neville pass with 1:20 to play, which was followed by a Sarah Masterson free position goal with :52 to play. Neville wrapped up the scoring with goals at the :42 mark and the :30 mark.
Lauren Chatnik made eight saves in minding the net for the entire game for the Stags. Her counterpart for the Crusaders, Megan Orr, stopped 18 shots in the contest.
Fairfield out shot Holy Cross 38-33 in the game, including 24-13 in the second half. The Stags also had a 15-10 advantage in draw controls. Fairfield cleared 20-24 times, while holding the Crusaders to 27-37.
The Stags return home on Friday, April 13, when they host Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Lacrosse League opponent Canisius. That game will be played at 7 p.m. on Lessing Field.
