FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In a game of runs on Saturday afternoon between Fairfield University Women's Lacrosse and Niagara, it was the host Stags who struck last and struck best to come away with a 12-9 MAAC victory. The win on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium boosts the Stags' record to 3-0 on the year. The Stags were led offensively by a trio of hat tricks courtesy of Kelly Horning, Meaghan Graham and Ellie Grefenstette. Graham also dished out an assist for a team-best four points on the afternoon. Arianna Lavelle added two goals and an assist, Elizabeth Rowe scored her first goal of the spring, and Brooke Lennon doled out an assist to round out the scoring effort. The defensive effort was led by Kelly Horning with three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Horning also collected a career-high seven draw controls as the Stags won that midfield battle, 14-7. Nicollette LaVista hauled in five draw controls at the X. In the back row, Reagan Bossolina registered two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Olivia Conquest went the distance in the cage, turning away 11 shots to earn the win. She also vacated the goal to scoop up three ground balls. "The scoring and flow of this game came in waves, and we need to control those better by limiting our errors," said Head Coach Laura Field. "But overall, I'm excited about how we played as we continue to build and improve. It's great to see four players with multiple goals and I was thrilled by our composure at key moments down the stretch." After the squads traded goals out to a 3-2 Niagara lead, the first significant run came with 10 minutes to play in the first half as markers from Horning, Rowe and Graham sent Fairfield into the locker room holding a 5-3 lead. Fairfield extended the run through the intermission with Horning and Grefenstette each burying a goal to build a 7-3 cushion. Despite being kept off the board by the Stags for more than 28 minutes, the Purple Eagles were able to storm back with four goals over the next three minutes to knot the game at 7-7 with 15:55 to go. Two minutes later, Horning's third goal of the day started the 4-0 spurt that would prove to be decisive. Lavelle, Graham and Grefenstette each added a goal during the stretch, staking Fairfield to an 11-7 cushion with 7:32 to go. Niagara's Shea Swartwout completed a hat trick to end the run, but Graham put the game out of reach with an eight-meter goal at 2:21 to go. Swartwout's fourth goal capped the scoring in the waning seconds, but LaVista came down with the ensuing draw control to stifle a late comeback and seal with 12-9 Fairfield victory. In addition to Swartwout's four goals, Lexi Braniecki had three for the Purple Eagles and Rachel Crane scored a pair. Michelle Messenger made seven saves in the Niagara cage. Up next for the Stags is a home-and-home series with Manhattan. The set begins in Riverdale on Friday, March 19 at 7 p.m. and wraps up on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Sunday, March 21 at 3 p.m. The Jaspers are 0-1 on the season with a 9-7 loss at Marist and are set to host Siena on Sunday, March 14 before beginning the series with the Stags