EDISON, NJ (Apr. 25, 2024) – Opening Round action of the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Lacrosse Championship begins this weekend on Sunday, April 28.
 
The six qualifiers for the championship include top overall seed Fairfield University, No. 2 Niagara University, No. 3 Siena College, No. 4 Iona University, No. 5 Mount St. Mary’s University, No. 6 Canisius University.
 
The 2024 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship will take place from April 28 through May 5. The six-team, single-elimination championship will begin with the aforementioned opening round on Sunday, followed by the semifinals on Friday, May 3, and concluding with the championship final on Sunday, May 5. Opening round matches will be hosted by Iona and Siena, the higher seed of each contest, at 12:00 p.m. The championship semifinal round and final will be hosted by No. 1 Fairfield at Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium in Fairfield, CT for the second straight year. All Championship matches will air live on the ESPN+ with start times to be determined.
 
#23 nationally ranked Fairfield clinched its second consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship, its fourth title over the past five seasons, after posting an unblemished league-best 9-0 record, securing a first round bye and the right to host the championship’s final four. The 15-time regular season champions, enter postseason action with an overall record of 15-1 and were winners of 15 straight contests, the longest active streak in the country, after falling in their season-opener back on February 10. The Stags have won the past five MAAC tournament championships and will be making their 18th straight appearance in the postseason field since 2006, while owning a MAAC-leading eight conference championship titles dating back to 2001. Fairfield will meet the lower advancing seed from the opening round in the semifinal round on Friday, May 3.
 
The second-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles finished its regular season slate with an impressive 14-3 overall mark and 7-2 tally in league play. The No. 2 seed is the programs highest seeding in the conference championship since the 2001. One of the hottest teams in the league, Niagara is riding a five game winning-streak, and were winners in seven out of its last eight contests dating back to March 27.  The Purple Eagles are qualifying for their fourth straight playoffs and eighth overall over the past nine campaigns. The program will be looking to win its first MAAC tournament ever, coming close twice previously with back-to-back final appearances in 2000 and 2001. Niagara will take on the higher advancing seed from the opening round in its semifinal round contest.
 
No. 3 Siena (12-5, 7-2 MAAC) vs. No. 6 Canisius (11-6, 4-5 MAAC)
Hickey Field | LOUDONVILLE, NY | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
No. 3 Siena will welcome No. 6 Canisius to Hickey Field for their opening round matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Saints and Golden Griffins met back on March 27 in Western New York, with the visiting Saints winning 12-11 in overtime. Prior to dropping their regular season finale to top-seeded Fairfield, Siena was on a five-game winning streak and were winners in 10 out of 11 contests. Siena will be making its fifth straight postseason tournament following a 7-2 MAAC season and 12-5 overall mark. 2024 also marked the fifth year in row in which the Saints finished their conference slate with only two losses. Siena made back-to-back final appearances in 2019 and 2021, but despite its recent success, the program is still in search of its first tournament trophy. Canisius will be in the postseason tournament for the 18th 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. Canisius is 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 fifth postseason meeting between the two schools, with each side owning two wins in the series. The Saints have won the most recent meetings in 2021 and 2019, while the Griffs’ wins came back in 2013 and 2011.
 
No. 4 Iona (12-4, 7-2 MAAC) vs. No. 5 Mount St. Mary’s (7-9, 5-4 MAAC)
Mazzella Field | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | 12:00 PM | ESPN+ | Live Stats

No. 4 Iona will host to No. 5 Mount St. Mary’s in New Rochelle, NY in the other first round game of the day. The Gaels and Mountaineers faced off in their respective MAAC-openers on March 23 at Iona, where the Gaels won the meeting 12-7. Iona set a program single season record with its seven MAAC wins in 2024 and posted a 12-4 overall record. They enter the postseason on a three-game winning streak. The Gaels are making their first tournament since 2018, and just their program’s fifth appearance since 2000. Iona has lost its previous four games in the playoffs and will be seeking its first ever tournament win on Sunday. The Mount makes the MAAC championship field for the second consecutive season having earned a spot in the field last season as well during their inaugural year in the league. Mount St. Mary’s posted a 5-4 MAAC mark during the regular season, closing out the schedule with two straight victories and as winners in three out of the last four. 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. The opening round battle will be the first matchup in the postseason between each side.
 
Tickets for all games during the 2024 MAAC Women’s Lacrosse Championship can be purchased through HomeTown Ticketing at the gate or by visiting maacsports.com.
 
For all information regarding the 2024 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 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, 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. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
 
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