April 20, 2007
The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team dominated the second half defensively on its way to a 13-9 win over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Lacrosse League foe Siena College, in Loudonville, N.Y., clinching a spot in the conference tournament in the process. The Stags improve to even on the year, at 8-8, and to 4-1 in MAAC play, while the Saints fall to 4-9 on the year and 3-3 in league play.
The game was tied 7-7 at the intermission until Lara Hannigan put the Stags ahead at the 23:19 mark, netting a pass from Amy Neville, for the 8-7 advantage. Fairfield's defense did not allow a shot until 22:51, but the Saints made it count, tying the score 8-8.
It was all Fairfield (8-8; 5-1 MAAC) from that point on. Neville struck again for the Stags at 20:44, putting in a free position goal, for the lead. The Saints tried to rally, taking four shots, two saved, over the next eight minutes, leading to a goal from Erin Rigby goal at 12:26, and a 10-8 lead.
Lauren Chatnik made her third save of the half at 11:36, and started the Stags downfield, resulting, 20 seconds later, in a Mary Vallely tally and an 11-8 advantage. Neville scored at 8:39 and Abbey Goodwin added another goal at 2:23 for a 13-8 lead. The Saints tallied a goal at 2:05, the final goal of the game.
Neville led the Stags with eight points, netting four goals and dishing out four assists. She also contributed three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Erin Rigby scored three times for Fairfield and also won four draw controls. Ashley Chappell had two goals, while Hannigan finished with a goal and an assist.
Chatnik made eight saves in the game, with five coming in the second half. Siena (4-9; 3-3 MAAC) keeper Heather Ely made nine saves, while allowing 13 goals.
Fairfield out shot the Saints 28-23, while winning the ground ball battle 25-20. Fairfield won 13 draws in the game, losing 11.
Neither team scored in nearly the first four minutes of play, despite four Siena shots. The Stags broke through at the 26:08 mark, when Erin Rigby scored on a pass from Katie von Hoffmann. That was the first of three goals in a 110 second span. Amy Neville scored unassisted at 25:20 and Ashley Chappell struck 62 seconds later, netting a pass from Neville, for the 3-0 lead.
The Saints broke through at 20:12 with a free position goal, but Chappell answered with a free position goal of her own at 17:49, for a 4-1 edge. The Saints rallied, scoring goals at 16:14, 13:38 and 12:26, to knot the score at 4-4.
The teams seesawed for the remainder of the half. Rigby scored her second goal at 9:04, to end a nearly 10 minutes scoring drought for the Stags, and a 5-4 edge. The Saints, after winning the ensuing draw control, re-tied the game 32 seconds later. Siena took its first lead of the game at the 6:57 mark, 6-5, but Kim Fuchs re-tied the score, 6-6, netting a pass from Neville at 5:38. Siena scored again at 3:58 for the 7-6 edge, but Neville tied the score at 2:05, and the teams went to halftime at 7-7.
The Stags are back in action on Sunday, April 22, at MAAC Lacrosse League foe LeMoyne. The regular season finale for is set to start at noon, with the winner capturing the regular season MAAC crown.
