WOMEN'S LACROSSE NOTEBOOK
Vermont (5-1) heads back on the road to face Fairfield (3-1) on Wednesday (Mar. 6) in Fairfield, Conn. The opening draw is set for 3 p.m. ET at Rafferty Stadium and will broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
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SCOUTING THE STAGS
Fairfield, the five-time defending champion of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, was selected as the preseason favorite for the 2024 campaign. Attackers Libby Rowe and Elizabeth Talluto, and defender Lindsey Barnes were all selected for the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Barnes was a USA Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention and an All-MAAC First Team pick during the 2023 campaign. The Stags have started the 2024 season 3-1. Their only loss was in their first game of the season to Holy Cross (L, 16-17). Since then, the Stags have had a three-game win streak, two of which have been against ranked opponents UConn (W, 11-9) and UAlbany (W, 15-10). Their most recent victory was at Hofstra (12-9). Graduate student, Elizabeth Talluto, leads the team in points (19) with 15 goals and four assists. Libby Rowe (7 goals, 9 assists) and Amanda Kozak (9 goals, 3 assists) are not far behind. 
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Stags are a perfect 2-0 against the Catamounts. The first time the two teams faced each other was 10 years ago when Vermont was defeated 10-9 on the road. The most recent defeat came last season in Burlington (L, 8-14). Ava Vasile recorded four goals while Jane Trauger, Erin Kloostra, McKenzie Ballard, and Ciera Licare each added a tally. 
 
HOMECOMING
Caroline Mangan, Vermont's newest addition to the coaching staff, had an impressive career as a Fairfield Stag. Mangan was a two-time captain of the Stags and was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Mangan also received IWLCA All-Region First Team honors and was a US Lacrosse Magazine All-America Honorable Mention. Mangan was with Fairfield through the five MAAC Championships and was named the tournament MVP twice in her career. She was also named Fairfield University Female Athlete of the Year.
 
AVA ON ATTACK
Reigning America East Co-Attacker of the Year, Ava Vasile ranks fifth in the country in goals this season, scoring 26 times through six contests. Her goals per game average (4.33) ranks 10th nationally. Vasile has tied a career-high six goals in three games this season.
 
LYDIA'S TWO-GOAL GAME
Rookie midfielder, Lydia Doraz registered her first career two-goal game Saturday as the Catamounts earned a comeback victory (W, 13-10) at Marist. Doraz's second goal of the game came off a won draw control where she raced to the net and buried a goal to tie the game 9-9 before the third quarter expired.
 
JANE LEADS THE COMEBACK
Last year's America East Rookie of the Year, Jane Trauger led UVM in its comeback victory at Marist with four goals and one assist. Trauger's first two goals erased a UVM deficit and gave the Cats a 5-4 lead with 12:49 left in the second quarter. Tied up at 10-10 in the fourth quarter, Trauger scored back-to-back goals in a span of 0:45 seconds to lock up a road victory for Vermont.