FAIRFIELD, CT (May 5, 2023) – No. 1 Fairfield University and No. 2 Siena College earned 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Championship semifinal victories on Friday, May 5 at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium in Fairfield, CT. The Stags earned a 14-7 wire-to-wire win over No. 4 Quinnipiac University, while the Saints used a dominating third quarter to knock off No. 3 Niagara University 13-10, each securing their spots in the championship final on Sunday. This will be the third time over the past four seasons that Fairfield and Siena will battle for the championship crown, having met in consecutive finals in 2019 and 2021.
No. 1 Fairfield 14 | No. 4 Quinnipiac 7
Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium | FAIRFIELD, CT
Box Score
Fairfield (13-4, 7-1) took a 3-0 lead a third of the way through the first quarter of the game, scoring all three goals in less than a three minute span and never relinquished the lead. Stags goal scorers included MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Oliva Doody (10:17), Elizabeth Talluto (9:42), and Amanda Kozak (7:49). Quinnipiac (10-8, 5-3) scored its lone goal of the half late in the quarter when Mia Delmond found the back of the net with 3:54 on the clock. Fairfield would hold the Bobcats scoreless the rest of the half, while outscoring them 4-0 in the second quarter to take a controlling 7-1 lead into the half. Doody would lead the way for the Stags with a hat trick in the opening two periods. After over 22 minutes without a goal, Quinnipiac scored back-to-back tallies in nine seconds to cut the score to 7-3 with 11:58 on the clock. That would be the closest the Bobcats would get in the quarter and game as the Stags would respond scoring the game’s next two goals and three out of the final five in the period, to hold an advantage of a handful heading into the final 15 minutes. Fairfield doubled-up Quinnipiac 4-2 in the final period to hold on for the 14-7 win.
Fairfield Notes and Notables
- Fairfield outshot the Bobcats (33-23) and posted more shots on target (21-18).
- The Stags also won the draw control battle by seven (16-9) which included a dominating 9-1 advantage in the first half.
- Fairfield had seven different goal scorers in the semifinal, led by hat tricks from both Doody and Talluto.
- The trio of Kozak, Maggie Fort, and Libby Rowe combined for six goals, scoring two apiece.
- Doody also dished out three assists, while Talluto handed out two.
- Casey Collins made 11 saves in goal for the Stags in the winning effort.
- Fairfield is making its 12th trip into the league final since 2006 and 14th overall since 2000.
- The Stags will be seeking their fifth straight league trophy and eighth overall.
Quinnipiac Notes and Notables
- Quinnipiac scooped up one more ground ball than Fairfield (22-21), caused more turnovers (13-10), and won the turnover battle (17-21).
- Emily Feeney and Angelina Sparacio led the way with two goals each for the Bobcats.
- Feeney’s tournament tear continued as she extended her tournament total to five goals in 2023.
- Delmond, Desiree Kleberg, and Abby Wise all added one goal to the Quinnipiac total.
- 2023 MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Kat Henselder had seven stops in net in the defeat.
No. 2 Siena 13 | No. 3 Niagara 10
Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium | FAIRFIELD, CT
Box Score
The opening half was a back and forth affair, which began with Siena
(12-6, 6-2) scoring the game’s first two goals, putting the Saints ahead 2-0. Niagara (12-7, 5-3) would answer with a four-goal rally to end the quarter, taking a 4-2 lead. Trailing 2-1, the Purple Eagles found the back of the net on three straight possessions, getting goals from Rachel Crane (1:53), Lexi Braniecki (0:49), and Andra Savage (0:09). Mary Soures stopped the run, scoring for Siena at the beginning of the second quarter to cut the deficit back to a single goal, which would be the story the rest of the period as both sides exchanged goals throughout. With 3:23 on the clock, Siena’s Jordan Bentley scored the equalizing goal, knotting the game at 6-6, but Niagara’s Savage produced the go-ahead goal with 30 seconds left in the quarter to give the Purple Eagles the 7-6 edge at the half. Siena flipped the script in the third stanza, dominating Niagara to the tune of a 6-1 period, which was headlined by a 6-0 run. Kelly Logue led the rally, scoring three of the six goals in the period, which gave the Saints a 12-8 lead. In the final quarter, Niagara got back-to-back goals from Crane and Braniecki just over three minutes into the quarter, cutting the deficit to just two goals. Despite the early goals, Siena’s defense would again handcuff Niagara, not allowing another goal the rest of the way. Siena keeper Sabrina Krasner led the defense with four crucial stops, making consecutive saves in one possession at the 10:16 and 9:39 marks, and a pair of late game saves both coming with under four minutes to play.
Siena Notes and Notables
- Logue scored a career-high six points coming from six goals in the win off of 11 shots.
- Bentley followed with five points (two goals, three assists).
- Amanda Nieman added a pair of goals and Grace Dobrzynski chipped in with one goal and two assists for the Saints.
- Krasner earned the victory in goal, stopping 11 shots.
- Siena held a 30-25 shot edge, with a 14-3 advantage during the third quarter.
- The Saints also picked up more ground balls (12-10) in the meeting.
- Siena is back in the MAAC title game for the third time since 2019 and fourth time overall in its history.
- The Saints have never won a MAAC Championship, falling in their three previous attempts.
Niagara Notes and Notables
- Niagara was led by Braniecki’s hat trick and one assist.
- Crane, Savage, and Lois Garlow all added two goals for the Purple Eagles.
- Niagara won the draw control battle (14-11) and caused turnover (7-5).
- In net, Kate Ling made eight saves in the defeat.
Fairfield and Siena will meet in the 2023 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship final on Sunday, May 7. The championship match will also be played at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium and will air live on ESPN+ at 12 p.m.
Tickets for all games during the 2023 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship can be purchased through HomeTown Ticketing at the gate or by visiting
maacsports.com.
For all information regarding the 2023 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wlax.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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