EDISON, NJ (Apr. 27, 2023) – The 2023 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Championship kicks off this weekend on Sunday, April 30, with opening round games. The six qualifiers for the championship include top overall seed Fairfield University, No. 2 Siena College, No. 3 Niagara University, No. 4 Quinnipiac University, No. 5 Canisius College, No. 6 Mount St. Mary’s University.
 
The 2023 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship will take place from April 30 through May 7. The six-team, single-elimination championship will begin with the aforementioned opening round on Sunday, followed by the semifinals on Friday, May 5, and concluding with the championship final on Sunday, May 7. Opening round matches will be hosted by Niagara and Quinnipiac, the higher seed of each contest, at 12:00 p.m. The championship semifinals and final will be hosted by No. 1 Fairfield at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium in Fairfield, CT, with start times to be determined. All Championship matches will air live on the ESPN family of networks.
 
Fairfield clinched its 14th MAAC Regular Season Championship in program history, posting a league-best record of 7-1, securing a first round bye and the right to host the championship’s final four. The Stags enter postseason action with an overall record of 12-4 and were winners in eight out of their last nine contests dating back to March 15. The four-time defending MAAC tournament champions will be making their 17th straight appearance in the championship field since 2006 and own a MAAC-leading seven conference postseason titles dating back to 2001. The Stags were one of the best teams in the conference both offensively and defensively this season, leading the MAAC in 16 team statistical categories. Fairfield will meet the lower advancing seed from the opening round in the semifinals.
 
The second-seeded Siena Saints will be making its fourth straight postseason tournament and earned an opening round bye for the second consecutive year following a 6-2 MAAC record (11-6 overall) during 2023. Additionally, this season marked the fourth year in row in which the Saints finished their conference slate with only two losses. Siena made back-to-back finals appearance in 2019 and 2021, but despite its recent success, the program is still in search of its first tournament trophy. The Saints will take on the higher advancing seed from the opening round in the semis.
 
No. 3 Niagara (11-6, 5-3 MAAC) vs. No. 6 Mount St. Mary’s (4-12, 3-5 MAAC)
Niagara Field | NIAGARA UNIV., NY | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
No. 3 Niagara will welcome No. 6 Mount St. Mary’s to Western New York for their opening round matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Purple Eagles and Mountaineers met in the MAAC-opener back on Saturday, March 25 at Niagara, with the visiting Mountaineers winning 15-14 in overtime. Niagara begins postseason action as one of the hottest teams in the league, riding a three game winning-streak, which includes wins over both top seeds in Fairfield and Siena. The Purple Eagles are qualifying for their third straight playoffs and seventh overall over the past eight seasons. The program will be looking to win its first MAAC tournament ever, making back-to-back finals in 2000 and 2001. The Mount makes the MAAC championship field in their inaugural season having finished in a three-way tie for fifth place. Despite being new to the league, the Mountaineers have a track record of success, having won back-to-back NEC Championships in 2021 and 2022, and four total NEC titles dating back to 1998. This will be the first matchup in the postseason between each side.
 
No. 4 Quinnipiac (9-7, 5-3 MAAC) vs. No. 5 Canisius (8-7, 3-5 MAAC)
Quinnipiac Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium | HAMDEN, CT | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

No. 4 Quinnipiac will play host to No. 5 Canisius in Hamden, CT in the other first round matchup of the day. The pair of squads met less than two weeks ago on Saturday, April 15 in Hamden, with the Bobcats taking the match in overtime, 9-8. Quinnipiac makes the MAAC postseason for the first time since 2021 and just its third overall appearance since joining the league in 2013-14. The Bobcats will be seeking their first ever tournament win, having lost their first two games their previous two trips. Quinnipiac closed the regular season also winning three straight games – tied for the longest active streak with Niagara – locking up the fourth seed in the tournament. Canisius will be in the tournament for the 17th straight year since 2006 and is the second-most successful MAAC program behind Fairfield since 2001, winning six league titles during the time. The Griffs are seeking their first league title since 2017, following winning back-to-back championships and also the only other program in addition to the Stags since 2001 to achieve four straight MAAC crowns, doing so from 2011 through 2014. Sunday’s opening round matchup will be the first postseason meeting between the two schools.
 
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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