By Ryan Patota, Sports Reporter
The women’s lacrosse team started their season strong, winning eight of their first nine games. However, things quickly changed for the Golden Griffins when conference play began, losing four of their six games against MAAC opponents, with their most recent win coming against the Manhattan Jaspers on Wednesday afternoon.
The team’s four game losing streak began after a heartbreaking overtime loss against Siena, followed by a tough result on the road against the formidable #25-ranked Fairfield. Canisius then returned home to face Mount St. Mary’s. The rainy conditions contributed to the team’s lowest scoring performance of the season, losing 8–5 to the Mount before facing a strong Iona team. The Griffs lost on Senior Day 15–9, resulting in their fourth straight loss.
The Griffs have made the most of their free-position chances, registering 36 free-position goals on the season, including three against Manhattan. Maddie Fitzgerald hasn’t stopped scoring, adding four goals against the Jaspers and raising her total to 19 goals on the season. Head coach Russell Allen praised Fitzgerald, saying, “[Fitzgerald] was once again playing like a veteran as a freshman and making major contributions all over the field for us.”
The top six women’s lacrosse teams in the MAAC make the playoffs, meaning the Griffs will need to continue winning against conference opponents in order to have a chance at qualifying for the postseason. They face Marist and Niagara before closing on the road against Rider in their final three games of the regular season.
The Golden Griffins will aim to continue their bounce back on the road against the Marist Red Foxes at Leonidoff Field in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The team returns home for their last game of the season at the Demske Sports Complex next Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. against the Niagara Purple Eagles.