Fairfield wins the 2015 Women's Lacrosse Championship
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Second-seed Fairfield University defeated top-seeded and four-time defending champion Canisius College, 9-7, in the championship game of the 2015 Women’s Lacrosse Championship in Buffalo, New York at Demske Sports Complex on the campus of Canisius College.
Fairfield’s Julianne Mascera scored the first goal of the contest just 46 seconds into the game giving the Stags an early 1-0 lead. Canisius would score three straight points, getting goals from Ashley Bull, Meghan Cuddy, and Tori Quinn putting the Griffs up 3-1. The score would stay that way for most of the half until Fairfield responded, going on a 3-0 run of its own to end the half and take a 4-3 lead into the break.
Fairfield resumed its run in the second half, coming out of the break scoring four straight goals, making it seven unanswered points and extending the lead to 8-3. A goal from Canisius’ Cuddy at the 12:30 mark would end a Canisius 34:25 scoring drought and lead to a 4-0 run over the next six minutes after the drought cutting the deficit to 8-7 with 6:00 to play. Fairfield’s defense would not surrender another goal in the final six minutes earning the 9-7 victory and 2015 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse title.
The Stags were led by Alex Fehmel’s three goals and Mascera’s two scores. Fairfield also got scoring efforts from Jenna Fuchs, Maeve Quinn, Collen Reynolds, and Scarlet Sulliman.
The Golden Griffins received goals from Cuddy, who led the team with three, Quinn who scored two and one goal apiece from Bull and Taylor Giglio.
Both Fairfield keeper Chelsey Sidaras and Canisius goalie Kayla Scully ended the contest with eight saves.
Sidaras was named the championship Most Valuable Player. Joining Sidaras on the All-Championship Team were teammates, Courtney Chmil, Fehmel, Meghan Reda, and Reynolds, Giglio, Scully, and Quinn from Canisius, Christine Astarita and Kara McHugh of Marist, and Katie Donohoe and Michelle Gonzales from Monmouth.
The 2015 title gives Fairfield its third overall and first since the 2009 campaign. Fairfield 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.