Fairfield University (11-6) used a seven-goal run in the first half to distance itself from Monmouth University (8-10) on Thursday afternoon at the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals. Monmouth rallied through the middle of the second half closing to 12-7 on sophomore Chloe Novak's (Landsdale, PA/North Penn) third goal of the game. The Stags scored the next three goals to push their lead to 15-7. Staines and Novak earned back to back goals in the final five minutes but the Fairfield lead proved too large with the Hawks falling 17-9. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead early then tied the game up 3-3 on Smith's 45th goal of the season before Fairfield kicked into high gear, scoring seven unanswered goals in an eight minute span. The Stags capitalized on five consecutive MU offensive turnovers, building the seven goal lead. Junior Jenny Staines (Silver Spring, MD/Good Counsel) stopped the run with her goal with 57 seconds left and Fairfield led 10-4 heading into halftime. NOTES & QUOTES "I'm so proud of and grateful for everything this team has accomplished this year. Our seniors did an incredible job pushing themselves outside their comfort zones to become leaders and role models and all of our successes as we moved through the year was because of them and their dedication to this program. I'm so lucky my first year as a Hawk was with this amazing group of young women." Monmouth Head Coach Jordan Trautman Monmouth is now 7-11 all-time against Fairfield Novak scored on all four of her shot attempts Monmouth has qualified for the MAAC Tournament in all five years in which it has been a member of the conference The No. 2 seed is the highest seed that the Hawks have earned Monmouth matched its best league record by going 6-2 in the regular season, earning its first share of a MAAC Regular Season Title. Monmouth has gone 6-2 in three of its five seasons in the MAAC The MAAC All-Tournament Team will be announced after Saturday's Championship match Monmouth senior and second team all-conference selection Kate Ryan was one of three Hawks with two caused turnovers. Ryan also had three ground balls NUMBERS CRUNCH Fairfield led in draw Controls 15-13, including 8-5 in the second half The Stags held a 31-35 advantage in shots Monmouth was three-of-five on free position attempts, Fairfield 1-of-8 Jenny Staines was the only other Hawk to score multiple goals, finishing with two Staines also led the Hawks with five draw controls Stag goalie Paulina DiFatta had 14 saves in net Fairfield's Taylor Mitchell had five points while Kathleen Hulseman had six points. They each had four goals UP NEXT Monmouth ends the 2018 season with an 8-10 overall record and a 6-2 mark in conference