Boxscore


FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For the second time in as many days, the Fairfield University field hockey team erased an early deficit to rally for a victory as the Stags handed the University of Pennsylvania a 4-2 setback on University Field. The game was the team's final regular-season home game of 2012 and was also senior day for the Class of 2013.

The seniors played a role in this victory as Molly Caffrey sealed the win by scoring the team's fourth goal with six minutes left in regulation. Goalkeeper Maddy Sposito made eight saves including three in two-minute flurry where Penn was close to tying the game on successive penalty corners. Seniors Michelle Loor and Amanda Keller joined Caffrey and Sposito in the starting lineup.

Penn opened the scoring at the 23:47 mark when Sarah Hasson took a shot from the top of the right circle which was deflected onto the stick of Helene Caniglia. The defender pushed the ball past Sposito from two yards away to make it a 1-0 game. The Stags rallied to tie the game off a penalty corner as Lindsey Hatch scored after the initial shot was batted around by both teams before it landed at the feet of Hatch.

The visitors regained the lead in the final minute when Amelia Cohen sent a ball into the circle from about 15 yard away. Katie Harrington stood in the middle of the circle and deflected the ball to the right side, just catching the corner of the goal with 22 seconds remaining.

Fairfield tied the game about 11 minutes into the second half when Kaitlyn Taddeo made a brilliant run into the circle and sent the ball toward goal. Christy Starsinic was in the right place at the right time and finished the opportunity to tie the game at 2-2. The Stags took their first lead of the game just three minutes later when Nikki McLucas inserted the ball from a penalty corner. Val Buurma stopped the ball for Felicitas Heinen, who flicked the ball into the upper right corner to make it a 3-2 score with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Penn made several runs late in the game, but Sposito made four saves late in the game and six stops overall in the second half. Fairfield put the game out of reach with under six minutes remaining when Heinen carried the ball down the right flank before sending a pass to Taddeo in the center of the circle. She quickly flicked the ball toward the right post where Caffrey waited. The senior one-timed a shot past the goalkeeper to ice the game at 4-2.

Sposito finished the game with eight saves while Penn goalkeeper Carly Sokach posted two saves.

Fairfield finishes the regular-season on October 27 when it heads to Boston University for an afternoon game. The Stags qualified for the America East tournament which takes place November 2 and 4 at a site to be determined.