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The Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse game against Fairfield felt like deja vu for many, as the team posted a late game scoring surge for the second match in a row. Yet in similar fashion, Quinnipiac ultimately came up short, losing to its opponents by one goal.

The Bobcats (3-7) hosted the Stags (6-3) in their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference home opener on Wednesday, losing by a final score of 9-8.

It was a back and forth match, with one goal being the highest deficit for the majority of the game, until Fairfield pulled ahead 9-6 with six minutes left.

“Revenge was something we talked about a lot this week, and just a ‘finish it’ mentality,” Quinnipiac head coach Tanya Kotowicz said of trying to redeem their almost comeback against Marist last Saturday.

The team came close against Fairfield with two freshman coming up big for the Bobcats. Attacker Gabby Beckett and midfielder Maddie Deegan pulled the score within one point in the final three minutes of the game.

The team was unable to “finish it” and fell to the Stags, but Kotowicz is proud of the progress the team has made already with knowing what it takes to win.

“This team is playing like warriors. They’re learning that the grit kind of wins games,” Kotowicz said. “The battle is what we talk about a lot, and they’re doing a really nice job of trying to find those battles and winning them.”

Senior midfielder Cara O’Meally and senior defender Aubrey Conti testified to this gritty mentality with fierce defensive plays and hustle for ground balls.

Quinnipiac won 14 of the 19 draw controls and converted on multiple free position shots, two of the Bobcats’ strengths.

Another strength of the team comes from senior attacker Allison Kuhn, who continued her season long scoring streak as she tallied a goal against the Stags. Kuhn is on pace to pass her previous season record of 35 goals.

“She’s done a great job, she’s a leader for us all over the field,” Kotowicz said of Kuhn. “Individual milestones are going to come along if she focuses on the team first.”

Junior attacker Megan Szawlowski paced the team in the game, putting three goals between the pipes. There were four other goal scorers with Kuhn, Beckett, and junior midfielder Victoria Bobinski each contributing a goal, and Deegan notching two.

The Stags’ had midfielders score all nine of their goals with sophomore Kelly Horning recording a hat trick, junior Meaghan Graham and graduate student Brooke Gallagher tallying two each, and sophomore Jillian Winwood contributing one.

The game was a physical one with the Stags drawing three yellow cards and the Bobcats getting two. Quinnipiac capitalized on its advantages, scoring two of their goals in player-up situations.

“We talk a lot about sportsmanship above all else,” Quinnipiac head coach Tanya Kotowicz said of the game’s physicality. “Stick to the fundamentals, keep your heads level.”

Although the defeat was the second in a row coming up short, Kotowicz hopes the team can persevere and win in the remainder of the season.

“It just stinks that we’re getting that close, and we aren’t closing the door,” Kotowicz said. “We have another opportunity on Saturday, and we’ll make sure we do it.”

The Bobcats will take on the Canisius College Golden Griffins in Buffalo, NY on Saturday, March 30 in another MAAC matchup.

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