April 23, 2006
Fairfield, Conn. - The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team closed out its regular season with a convincing 16-5 win over visiting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Lacrosse League foe Iona College this afternoon in heavy rains on Alumni Field. The win improves the Stags to 7-9 overall and 5-2 in the MAAC, while the Gaels fall to 5-11 on the year and 1-6 in league play.
Fairfield wasted little time in taking charge of the game as Ashley Chappell scored 1:55 into the game, starting a run that put the Stags up 5-0 when Abbey Goodwin netted a goal at the 22:33 mark. Iona cut the lead to 5-1 with a goal from Jaclyn O'Leary at 17:50, which sparked another Stags run, culminating with an 11-1 halftime lead.
Rebecca White started the second half in similar fashion for the Stags, scoring 16 seconds into the period. Mary Vallely followed with a free position goal at 26:36 for the 13-1 lead. The teams traded goals over the remainder of the contest, with the Gaels scoring twice in the final 30 seconds of play, to make the final 16-5.
Fairfield honored its seniors, Beth Loffredo and Katie Voight, prior to the contest, and both played well in their final home contest. Loffredo scored two goals and had an assist, as well as two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Voight, making her first start of the year, had a pair of ground balls and a caused turnover.
White led the Stags with five points, as she netted three goals and two assists. Chappell finished with four points, on three goals, as well as two ground balls. Sarah Masterson and Mary Vallely both had two goals for the Stags.
Lauren Chatnik minded the net for 30:16 and earned the win, making two saves and allowing only one goal. Kristin Genovese played the final 29:44 in net, making six saves, while giving up four goals. Katie von Hoffmann was the defensive sparkplug, as she had seven caused turnovers, the second highest single-game total in program history.
Iona was led by the three goals of Jaclyn O'Leary. Roxanne Monte started in net, allowing eight goals in 20:39, while making three saves, in the loss. Colleen Magri played 39:21 in net, making eight saves and allowing eight goals.
Fairfield will advance to the MAAC Tournament, Friday, April 28 and Sunday, April 30 at Iona in New Rochelle, N.Y. The Stags will be the three-seed and will take on the second-seed, Canisius College in the second semifinal. LeMoyne, the top-seed, will take on the winner of the Manhattan-Marist game, rescheduled to Monday night, in the first semifinal, at 1 p.m. on Friday.
