The Fairfield University field hockey team (10-9, 1-4 AE) advances to the America East Championship tournament for the first time in program history since joining the conference in 2007. 

The Stags enter the tournament as the #4 seed and will take on #1 New Hampshire (10-7, 5-0 AE) in the first semifinal on Friday, November 2 at 2pm.  The second semifinal game on Friday will be played at 5pm between #2 Albany (11-7, 3-2 AE) and #3 Maine (10-9, 2-3 AE).  Livestats are available by clicking here and free videostreaming is available here for Friday's semifinal games.

The Stags advance to the tournament under head coach Jackie Kane after clinching a tournament berth in their October 20th, 3-2 overtime victory against Vermont.  The game-winner was scored by junior forward Hillary Fitts on an assist by freshman Kaitlyn Taddeo just 17 seconds into the first overtime period.

The Stags and the Wildcats last met in their first conference game of the 2012 season on September 28.  Fairfield came up short in a 2-3, double overtime loss. The Stags had the first lead in the game with a shot by Lindsey Hatch on a pass from Fitts.  The score of 1-0 held until the 57th minute when New Hampshire scored two back-to-back goals to take the lead 2-1.  One minute before the final buzzer, Felicitas Heinen and Hatch lined it up for Christy Starsinic to tie the game and force it into overtime.  Possession went back and forth until the 95:46 mark when Hannah Richard scored her second of the game on a rebound.  Goalkeeper Maddy Sposito posted a career-high 15 saves in the game while the team had an additional four. 

The winners of the two semifinals will play in the championship game on Sunday, November 4.


2012 America East Field Hockey Championship
All games at University of New Hampshire's Memorial Field, Durham, N.H.

Semifinals – Friday, November 2
#1 New Hampshire vs. #4 Fairfield, 2 p.m.
#2 Albany vs. #3 Maine, 5 p.m.

Title Game – Sunday, November 4
Semifinal winners, TBD