Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team played its first America East home game this afternoon, but the result did not go its way as the University of Maine left town with a 6-1 decision over the Stags. The Black Bears scored three times in each half, while the Stags tallied their lone goal in the second half.

Maine opened the scoring just five minutes into the game when Kelly Newton found an opening center circle and twisted past a defender for an open shot on goal. Holly Stewart put the visitors up by a pair of goals when she came out of a crowd with the ball and just pushed the ball inside the near post at 10:16. The visitors closed out the scoring with less than four minutes remaining in the half when Lelia Sacre converted on a penalty stroke after the Stags were whistled for a foul right in front of the goal mouth.

Newton pushed the advantage to four goals when she converted a pass from Stewart, taking the pass just 12 feet from the goal and one-timing a shot to the far corner. The Stags broke through 11 minutes later with freshman Lindsey Hatch's second goal of the season. Christy Starsinic made a pinpoint pass through traffic that found its way to Hatch at the far post. The freshman finished the play to that corner of the goal, beating Maine goalkeeper Brittany Fleck at 52:12.

The Bears finished the scoring on a pair of goals from Steward, scoring at 62:15 and 68:18 to complete the scoring. Stephanie Gardiner was credited with an assist on the team's fifth goal, her first point of the day.

Fairfield goalkeeper Maddy Sposito made eight saves, while Fleck finished with three saves. Maine outshot the Stags by an 18-9 count, including an 11-4 advantage in the opening half.

The Stags start a two-game road trip on Sunday when they head to Yale University for a 1 pm game. Fairfield will play its next America East game on Saturday, October 22 when it travels north for a match up with the University of Vermont. Game time is slated for noon.