FAIRFIELD — History has a funny way of repeating itself.
In 2025, Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse finished with a 10-8 record, a 4-4 record in conference play and ended its season with a loss to the Siena Saints in the semifinal round of the MAAC Tournament. In 2026, almost a year to the day since that loss, the Bobcats season has once again come to a close in the semifinal round of the MAAC Tournament.
But this time around, it was the Fairfield Stags who ended their season, handing Quinnipiac a 13-9 loss.
“I’m proud of this season, but I want us to keep pushing,” Quinnipiac head coach Jordan Solari said
To say Fairfield has been dominant in the 2026 season has been an understatement. The Stags boasted a 14-3 overall record, perfect record in MAAC play and were riding a nine game win streak heading into Friday’s contest. It was a tall order that the Bobcats seemed ready to take on.
For the opening five minutes, it looked like that may have been the case.
Riding the momentum of a crucial save from sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Alden, sophomore attacker Peyton Choma picked up a shot from senior attacker Mia Delmond and buried the ball into the back of the net for Quinnipiac’s first goal of the game.
That would be Quinnipiac’s first and only lead, as the Stags climbed back in with a goal from senior attacker Mary Henry immediately after to tie it.
The rest of the first quarter was nothing short of Stag dominance in the offensive end, as Fairfield won all but one draw control and peppered Alden with nine shots en route to a four goal period by the end of the first 15 minutes.
But as soon as the Bobcats began to win their draws, the points began to follow. And for that, Solari has sophomore midfielder Hannah West to thank.
“She came in and did a really good job for us on the dot,” Solari said. “She’s done a good job all year.”
As the Bobcats were climbing back, the Stags kept pace. Three straight goals from sophomore midfielder Emma Miller-Ayala and senior attacker Cate Bendowski were answered by a pair of Stags goals.
It was the battle that the Bobcats knew was going to be in store. But after another goal from Bendowski and three straight saves by Alden, including two free position saves, the Bobcats were within a score in the final seconds of the half. The belief was stronger than ever that they could pull off the upset.
That belief extended deep into the third, as the Bobcats and Stags continued to trade blows for the entire 15-minute quarter. Senior midfielder Julia Givens beat graduate student goalkeeper Whitney Robinson high, only to be answered by graduate student midfielder Haley Burns and junior attacker Kelly Haggerty.
Quinnipiac got even closer in the opening minutes of the final frame. Bendowski circled behind the cage of Robinson and found Givens mere feet from the net. The ball exitedGivens’ stick just as quickly as it- found the back of the net.
The Bobcats were down a score and were well within striking distance. It was time for them to close the gap and punch their ticket to the MAAC Championship. But unfortunately, the Stags would get the last word.
Graduate student attacker Kyleigh Tufano would begin the dismantling by once again beating Alden low. Five minutes later, Haggerty would do the same.
With their backs against the wall and needing a score, the Bobcats would mount one final comeback attempt. But two missed shots and a forced ground ball later, the Stags were driving into the Bobcat end with only a handful of seconds remaining, bleeding the clock and sealing Fairfield’s semifinal victory.
Despite Quinnipiac missing its end goal once again, Solari couldn’t have been prouder of her squad.
“I had a ton of belief and still do,” she said. “I know the scoreboard doesn’t reflect that, but I fully and wholeheartedly believe in the people we have in that locker room … I believe in the people that we have, the program that we built and I know that the Bobcats will be back to make another run next year.”
The loss also marks the end of an era for Quinnipiac lacrosse, as nine seniors exited the field for the final time in their collegiate careers.
“They’re a great group, every single one of them,” Solari said. “Whether they got 60 minutes on the field or zero, each and every one of them contributed to us getting to this point.”
It’s going to be a long road back to the semifinal, but Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse will be ready. No matter what comes their way, the Bobcats will face it head on with the same mentality they have all year: believe.
