Fairfield Defeats Monmouth 8-7 in the Semifinal of the Women's Lacrosse Championship
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Second-seed Fairfield University defeated third-seed Monmouth University 8-7 in the first semifinal of the 2015 Women’s Lacrosse Championship in Buffalo, New York at Demske Sports Complex on the campus of Canisius College.
In the first half, Fairfield held Monmouth to just one shot on goal and zero points, taking a 3-0 lead into the half. In the second half, Fairfield opened up a 5-0 lead before Monmouth rallied to score two of the games next three goals (6-2), then three of the next four goals (7-5), before tying the contest at 7-7 with 4:29 remaining in the game by a free position goal from Marial Pierce. Riley Hellstein scored the game-winning goal for Fairfield with 3:38 left in the contest off of an assists from Julieanne Mascera.
Hellstein led the Stags with a hat trick and one assists. Mascera chipped in with two goals, while Courtney Chmil, Jenna Fuchs, and Maeve Quinn all scored one goal apiece.
The Hawks second half rally was led by Pierce’s three goals, and Olivia Higson and Claudia LaMarca scored two goals.
Fairfield keeper Chelsey Sidaras made seven saves in goal, while Monmouth’s Katie Donohoe had eight stops.
Fairfield advances to the title game for the first time since 2012 and will face the winner of top-seed Canisius College and fifth-seed Marist College on Sunday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. live on Time Warner Cable and ESPN3.
The winner of the 2015 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship earns the league’s automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship. The NCAA Division I selection announcement will take place on Sunday, May 3 at 9:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.