Metro Conference

Top Four Seeds Advance to MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Semifinals, Top-Seeded Fairfield Survives Overtime Thriller

5/2/2021 12:52:35 AM

No. 1 Fairfield University – 14 | No. 8 Marist College – 13 (OT)
2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship – Quarterfinal
Rafferty Stadium | Fairfield, CT
 
Down two goals late in the second half to a resilient Marist College (3-5, 2-4 MAAC) squad, Fairfield University would score twice in the final 1:50 of regulation to force overtime. In the overtime period, it was the 2021 MAAC Midfielder of the Year, Kelly Horning, who would find the back of the net for the Stags and send them into the semifinal round of the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship. Fairfield (11-1, 10-1 MAAC) welcomes Niagara University next in the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse semifinals on Thursday, May 6. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
 
Fairfield Notes

• Horning would record a game-high six goals for Fairfield, tying her career high for a game. She also tallied her 100^th collegiate goal during the day.
• Arianna Lavelle was the other multi-goal scorer for the Stags, also matching a career high for a game with four on the day. Her fourth goal cut Fairfield’s deficit to one late in the second half, 13-12.
• Other goal-scorers for Fairfield include Meaghan Graham (1), Diana DeVita (1), Ellie Grefenstette (1), and Elizabeth Rowe (1). Grefenstette also added two assists along with one from Rowe.
• The Stags edged Marist in caused turnovers, 9-8, with six of them coming from Horning (3) and Caroline Mangan (3).
• Olivia Conquest made 11 saves in the winning effort, including seven in the first half.
• Fairfield has now won four straight games vs. Marist, tying for their longest streak against the Red Foxes (4/11/2001 – 4/26/2003). The streak began following their victory on April 6, 2019.

Marist Notes

• Marist would open up the game with three goals in the first 3:12, and would manage their lead until the midpoint of the half.  The Red Foxes would manage to reclaim the lead midway into the second half with a 5-1 run.
• Samantha Mehalick led the way for Marist with five goals. She finishes the postseason with 10 goals over two games. With her performance, she passed Lindsey Diener for second place on Marist's all-time points list.
• Devon Connolly tied Mehalick for points on the day with five (4g, 1a)
• Kelly George was the third of three Marist players to record a hat trick for the afternoon.  Her four points (3g, 1a) only trailed Mehalick and Connolly for the team lead.
• Kari Gutenberger (1g, 1a) and Isabelle Stockman (1a) also recorded points for the Red Foxes.
• Goalkeeper Delaney Galvin played a pivotal role in keeping Marist in the game, making 12 saves while facing 37 shots.
• Marist had the advantage over Fairfield in draw controls, 19-9.

No. 2 Siena College – 21 | No. 7 Canisius College – 11
2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship – Quarterfinal
Hickey Field | Loudonville, NY
 
It was a record-setting day at Hickey Field as Siena College (10-2, 9-2 MAAC) scored 21 goals in their victory over Canisius College (2-8, 2-7 MAAC), a new record for a game in the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship. Siena never looked back following the first half, outscoring Canisius 16-6 and ended the half with a 5-0 run. In addition, the Saints saw several team and individuals records set and a career milestone crossed with Mary Soures’ 100th career point.  Siena will now advance to the semifinals where they will host third-seeded Monmouth on Thursday, May 6. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
 
Siena Notes

• Six Saints registered multi-goal games on the afternoon and eight recorded at least one point on the stat sheet.
• Nicole McNeely tallied a game-high five goals for Siena, one of five players to collect a hat trick during the game. McNeely also recorded an assist.
• Leading the way in points was All-MAAC First Team selection Kaitlyn Dowsett, collecting three goals and four assists for a total of seven points.
• Siena goalkeepers Ally Mervine and Sabrina Krasner also had a record-setting day, setting a new team record for saves made in a MAAC Championship game with a combined 11 from the duo.
• In addition to the 21 goals scored and 11 saves made, Siena set team records in a MAAC Championship game for shots (35), shots on goal (30), draw controls (23), and clear percentage (1.000).

 
Canisius Notes

• Marissa Malvaso and Katie Smolensky led the way for the Golden Griffins in goals with three each. 
• Other multi-goal games came from Skylar McArthur (2g) and Miranda Malvaso (2g).
• Smolensky and Paige Stachura both led the team with five shots each, all of which were on-target.
• Toni Malvaso forced a team-high two turnovers and tied Shannon Maroney for the lead in ground balls with three.
• Canisius edged Siena in ground balls, 13-12

No. 3 Monmouth University – 15 | No. 6 Manhattan College – 6
2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship – Quarterfinal
Kessler Stadium | West Long Branch, NJ
 
Monmouth University (8-4, 7-4 MAAC) used an early 5-0 run to set the tone of the game as they defeated Manhattan College (3-9, 3-8 MAAC) by a final of 15-6. The first half belonged to the Hawks, as they would outscore the Jaspers, 9-2. Manhattan would score three of the first four goals in the second half, but the Hawks would take over the rest of the way and close out the game with a 5-1 run. Monmouth now advances to the semifinals where they will travel to face second-seeded Siena in Loudonville, NY, on Thursday, May 6. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
 
Monmouth Notes

• With the win, Monmouth advances to the semifinals of the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship for the sixth time in seven seasons 
• Allison Turturro accounted for five of Monmouth’s 15 goals, and recorded a team-high eight draw controls. Turturro’s eight shots and seven SOGs were also a game-high.
• 2021 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Nicole Ceraso, tallied a game-high seven points (3g, 4a).
• Caroline Bleck recorded two points (1g, 1a), with the lone goal being the 100th of her collegiate career.
• Sarah Gillogy and Chloe Novak each found the back of the net twice. 
• Gina Verrone led the game in ground balls with six.
• Goalkeeper Steph Delliturri made 10 saves after facing 21 shots.
• Monmouth improves to 13-0 against Manhattan.

Manhattan Notes

• Freshman Julianna Iovine scored her first two collegiate goals. Iovine also added one assist to finish with a team-high three points.
• Alaina Burgess, Carmella Liscio, Reagan Mullins, and Grace Lipponer each recorded one goal. Lipponer had a team-high six shots and four shots on goal.
• Grace Steinthal and Andrea Liotta each caused two turnovers.
• In goal, Ashley Gambardella made eight saves while facing 30 shots. 
• The Jaspers held a 14-16 advantage in turnovers

 
No. 4 Niagara – 16 | No. 5 Quinnipiac – 11
2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship – Quarterfinals
Niagara Field | Niagara University
 
Niagara University (8-4, 7-4 MAAC) defeated Quinnipiac University (5-7, 5-6 MAAC) in the quarterfinals round of the MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship by a score of 16-11. The Purple Eagles got out to a hot start in the first half as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead and found themselves up 10-4 at the end of the first half. Quinnipiac’s comeback attempt fell short in the second half as they closed the gap to 13-8 with 10:27 left before Niagara scored three straight goals and put the game out of reach. The Purple Eagles advance to the semifinals and will face off against top-seeded Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT, on Thursday, May 6. Game time is to be determined. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.


Niagara Notes

• Lexi Braniecki had a game-high and career-high five goals on seven shots, and caused one turnover. 
• Shea Swartwout and Rachel Crane each found the back of the net four times. Swartwout’s third goal would go down as the game-winning goal.
• Lois Garlow tallied four points (2g, 2a) on six shots.
• 2021 MAAC Goaltender of the Year Michelle Messenger made 16 saves after facing 34 shots. Messenger also scooped up a game-high nine ground balls.
• The Purple Eagles held a 23-21 advantage in ground balls and had a 10-5 lead in draw controls in the first half.
• Niagara advances to the semifinals for the first time since 2017.
• The Purple Eagles improved to 6-1 at home with the six wins setting a program record.

 
Quinnipiac Notes

• Megan Szawloski led the way for the Bobcats with three points (2g, 1a) on six shots.
• Desiree Kleberg and Katie Bonanno each found the back of the net twice, both having two shots apiece. Bonanno’s two goals were a career-high.
• Five other Bobcats scored once, Emily Feeney, Maddie Noel, Sophia Iaccino, Shannon Savage, and Amy Nicoloff.
• Julia Steneck and Kat Henselder each scooped up five ground balls. Steneck also forced two turnovers.
• The Bobcats has a slight edge in the turnover margin 15-16 and had a 16-13 advantage in draw controls.

 
 

2021 MAAC WOMEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, April 30	Match-Up	Time	Network
Play-In Game*	No. 8 Marist 11 vs. No. 9 Iona 10	11:00 a.m.	ESPN+
Saturday, May 1
Quarterfinal #1	No. 2 Siena 21 vs. No. 7 Canisius 11	3:00 p.m.	ESPN+
Quarterfinal #2	No. 3 Monmouth 15 vs. No. 6 Manhattan 6	1:00 p.m.	ESPN+
Quarterfinal #3	No. 1 Fairfield 14 vs. No. 8 Marist 13 (OT)	12:00 p.m.
Quarterfinal #4	No. 4 Niagara 16 vs. No. 5 Quinnipiac 11	1:00 p.m.	ESPN+
Thursday, May 6
Semifinal #1	No. 2 Siena vs. No. 3 Monmouth	TBD	ESPN+
Semifinal #2	No. 1 Fairfield vs. No. 4 Niagara	TBD	ESPN+
Sunday, May 9
Championship Game	Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner	TBD	ESPN+

 
The 2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship continues on Thursday, May 6, with the semifinal round. The 2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship Game is scheduled for Sunday, May 9. For more information on the 2021 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship, 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) celebrates its 40^th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.