LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's lacrosse team was defeated Wednesday afternoon, falling 18-9 to Fairfield. The Broncs fall to 1-12 on the season and 0-4 in league play, while the Stags improve to 9-3 on the year and remain unbeaten at 4-0 in league games.
 
The Broncs got on the board first, getting a goal from Madi Eollo (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) to open the scoring just over a minute into the contest. Fairfield countered with a pair of tallies before Brynn Merkinger (Mendham, NJ/Mount St. Mary Academy) got the equalizer midway through the opening quarter. Fairfield would go ahead 4-2 before Merklinger and Eollo both scored again tying the game 4-4 at the end of the first 15 minutes.
 
The Stags took control of the game in the second, scoring six unanswered goals to go into the break with a 10-4 lead.
 
After Fairfield extended the lead to 11-4, Kaleigh Colleary (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart[Butler]) found the back of the cage to break the run. Marissa Ross (Reisterstown, MD/Beth Tfiloh[FDU-Florham]) and Eollo scored again in the third  to keep the deficit at 14-7 entering the fourth.
 
Fairfield scored four-straight goals to begin the fourth, then Hannah Kozik (Ellington, CT/Ellington) scored back-to-back goals to round out the game's scoring.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Our energy and effort from first whistle to final whistle was something that we've needed. I'm super proud of the team for not giving in when Fairfield started to pull away, and continuing to produce into the final minutes of the game. That is exactly what this program needs. We need to have the mentality that we haven't had the results that we've wanted, but we have to walk into every game and show up and compete. We are just figuring out how to put the pieces together to get through a full 60 minutes and not have such highs and lows." – Head Coach Paige Frye
 
- Fairfield extends its lead in the all-time series to 3-0.
- Jamie Kubach (Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter[FDU-Florham]) got the start in net, playing all 60 minutes and making 10 saves, taking the loss.
- Eollo's hat trick is the first of her career.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Fairfield outshot Rider 37-24, including a 28-15 edge in shots on goal.
- The Stags held a 21-9 edge in draw controls. Ross led the Broncs individually with five draw controls.
- Ross and Erin Collins (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) each had a team-high three ground balls.
- Ross added a team-high three caused turnovers.
 
Up Next
Rider returns to action Saturday, hosting Niagara for a 1 p.m. start.