Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Fairfield field hockey opened up their season this afternoon against Hofstra University, of the Colonial Athletic Conference.  The Stags fell to the Pride in a 3-1 decision, after dominating the first half of play.

In the first ten minutes of the game, Fairfield got three shots off before Hofstra had their chance to control the ball.  The Stags were able to put the pressure on, but unable to put one of those three shots in the back of the net against Pride goalkeeper, Kaitlyn De Turo.  The Pride kept possession for the following two minutes which was all they needed to put one up on the board after two shots and one save by goalkeeper Maddy Sposito, Hofstra's Jonel Boileau made the score 1-0, and scored the Pride's first goal of the season off a blocked shot.

The Stags refused to back down and came back right away advancing to their opponent's net and after a penalty corner taken by Emily Leo, junior Christy Starsinic tied the game up with an assist from Felicitas Heinen.  The score remained 1-1 with few shots taken by either team in the remaining 15 minutes of the half.

The Pride came out strong in the second half, scoring within the first five minutes to get up on the Stags, 2-1.  After one Sposito save on a shot by Lauren Del Valle, Boileau had her second goal of the game on Del Valle's assist. 

Fairfield had chances off penalty corners taken by Lindsey Hatch to tie the game at two all, but with one shot by Shealyn Testa gone wide, and a shot by Heinen blocked, Hofstra regained control of the ball.  Sposito played notable defense at her net, but the Pride put one more past her at the 56:16 mark.  Krizia Layne took the penalty corner for Hofstra and passed it to Melissa McCarthy at the top who gave it over to Micaela Gallagher for her first goal of the season, and the Pride's third of the game.  The score of 3-1 held until the final horn.

The Stags (0-1, 0-0 AE) will host Bucknell University on University Field at 1pm on Sunday for their home opener.  Fairfield and the Bison have not met since both were members of the Patriot League in 2003.