NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.- For the first time in program history, the Marist women's lacrosse team is the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion. The Red Foxes outscored Fairfield 6-1 in the second half en route to a thrilling, 10-9 victory in New Rochelle, N.Y. on Sunday. Senior goalkeeper Liz Burkhard (Wantagh, N.Y.) made 14 saves on the day and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and junior Stephanie Garland (Long Valley, N.J.) scored three times to lead the Marist offense.

Senior Ali Carnabuci (Albertson, N.Y.) got the scoring started 6:14 into the game with an unassisted goal. Five minutes later, the Stags, who had won 17 straight, tied the score on a Kelly Barnes goal. They took their first lead three minutes later.

Liz Falco (Yorktown, Heights, N.Y.) knotted the score 2-2 with an unassisted tally with 11:35 left in the first half, but Fairfield (17-2) scored two straight to build a two goal cushion.

Marist senior Lindsey Diener (Nanuet, N.Y.) got the Red Foxes back within one when she converted a free position shot, but again, the Stags would score two straight to push their lead to 6-3.

Falco was able to find fellow sophomore Lindsay Rinefierd (Smithtown, N.Y) for a goal with 1:32 left in the half to make the score 6-4, but 10 seconds later Fairfield answered back.

Then, with only three ticks left in the stanza, Abbey Goodwin beat Burkhard to put the Stags on top 8-4 going into the break.

Marist started their comeback 2:37 into the second half when Carolyn Sumcizk (Syosset, N.Y.) converted a free position shot. Seven minutes later, the Red Foxes pulled within two when Garland netted her first of the game off a Sumcizk feed.

Freshman Kellie Considine (Wantagh, N.Y.) converted another free position attempt into a goal to pull Marist (10-8) within one with 17:08 left, and 10 seconds later, Cristin Begley (Brookville, Md.) found Garland for the tying goal.

Garland gave the Red Foxes a 9-8 lead after a Kate Noftsker (Needham, Mass.) pass, and Noftsker then found the back of the net for some insurance with 10:11 left in the contest.

The Marist defense buckled down for the remaining ten minutes. The Stags were able to cut the Red Fox lead to one with 46 seconds left but couldn't get the equalizer.

Burkhard only faced 11 shots in the second half as the Marist defense was fantastic. After being out-shot 24-8 in the first, the Red Foxes held a 15-11 second half shot advantage.

Fairfield picked up 35 ground balls to Marist's 16, but the Red Foxes won 12 of 21 draw controls. Sophomore Nicole Musto (Glastonbury, Conn.) scooped up three ground balls to lead Marist and Begley had three draw controls.

Diener, Falco, Garland, and Musto were all named the to All-Tournament Team.

Marist will take on Colgate in an NCAA Tournament Play-In Game. Colgate won the Patriot League on Sunday afternoon by defeating American. The game will be played at Colgate with date and time yet to be determined.