FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's lacrosse team won its fifth straight game, defeating visiting College of the Holy Cross 18-8 on Lessing Field Tuesday afternoon. The Stags improve to 11-2 overall, while the Crusaders drop to 3-10.

The Stags used a dominating first-half offensive attack to earn the victory, scoring the first three goals of the game in 5:54, and led 12-1 at halftime. Nine different Fairfield players tallied a goal in the contest, led by the four goals of Erin Rigby (Fair Haven, N.J.), who also had an assist for five points.

Kylee Martin (Wyckoff, N.J.) also had five points for the Stags, netting three goals and dishing out two assists. Kristen Coleman (Potomac, Md.) scored three times, while Abbey Goodwin (Columbus, Ohio) and Katie Phillips (Longmeadow, Mass.) both scored twice.

Holy Cross scored two of the first three goals of the second half, making the Stags lead 13-3, but the Stags answered with three unanswered goals to make the advantage 16-3 with 13:29 to play.

Lauren Chatnik (Schenectady, N.Y.) made eight saves, while allowing four goals, to earn the win in net for the Stags. She played 53:40 and had three ground balls in the win. Kelley Brady (Olney, Md.) played the final 6:20 in the crease and allowed four goals.

The Crusaders also used two goalies in the game, with Amy Martin (Bloomfield, Mich.) taking the loss, allowing 16 goals, making 10 saves and playing 51:14. Kelly Casey (Newtown, Pa.) led the way on the offensive side, with a pair of goals and an assist. Kat Sutton (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) won a game-high five draw controls as the Crusaders led in that category as a team, 15-13.

The Stags out shot Holy Cross 39-17 for the game and had a 30-16 advantage in ground balls. Both teams were 2-3 in free position shots for the game.

Fairfield will return to action on Wednesday, April 15, when it hosts Long Island University at 4:00 p.m. on Lessing Field.

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FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Kelly Casey (Newtown, Pa.) scored two goals and had one assist for three points, but the Holy Cross women's lacrosse team fell to Fairfield, 18-8, on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action. With the loss, the Crusaders fall to 3-10 overall, while the Stags improve to 11-2 overall.

Sophomore Annie Boylan (Andover, Mass.) and freshman Kayla DiBari (Holderness, N.H.) each scored one goal and had one assist for two points. This was DiBari's collegiate debut. Senior Calley Benoit (Concord, N.H.), sophomore Meg O'Leary (Longmeadow, Mass.), freshman Kat Sutton (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and freshman Cami Thompson (Rockville, Md.) each scored one goal. This was Thompson's first collegiate goal. Freshman Catherine Crowe (Davidsonville, Md.) also had a point in her collegiate debut with one assist.

The Stags were led by Erin Rigby and Kylee Martin who each had five points. Rigby scored four goals and had one assist, while Martin scored three goals and had two assists. Kristen Coleman scored three goals and had one assist for four points.

After Fairfield scored the first three goals of the contest, Benoit found the back of the net to make the score 3-1. The Stags then scored the last nine goals of the first half for a 12-1 lead.

Holy Cross made it a 12-2 contest with a goal by Boylan on a free-position shot. With the Stags now leading 13-2, O'Leary scored to make it a 13-3 score. After Fairfield increased the lead to 16-3, Casey scored of an assist by Crowe. After the Stags scored, Thompson found the back of the net off a pass by Boylan to make it a 17-5 score. After Fairfield made it an 18-5 contest, the Crusaders scored three straight goals. Sutton scored off an assist by DiBari, DiBari scored off a pass by Casey and Casey scored on a free-position shot. Those were the last three goals of the game for the 18-8 final score.

Sophomore goalie Amy Martin (Bloomfield, Mich.) made 10 saves, while Lauren Chatnik stopped eight shots. The Stags outshot Holy Cross, 39-17, while Fairfield picked up 30 ground balls and the Crusaders had 16. Holy Cross earned 15 draw controls and the Stags had 13. Each team went 2-3 on free-position shots.

The Crusaders will return to action on April 11, when they will travel to play Patriot League opponent Lafayette at 12:00 p.m.

2009-04-07