The Fairfield University field hockey team debuted at the number 23 spot in this week's national poll, to earn the program's highest national ranking in school history.  The Stags received 47 points in the poll after posting four consecutive wins which improved their overall record to 4-2. 
 
The Stags received votes for the national poll during the 2011 season but have never broken into the Top 25 rankings.  Fairfield along with Richmond, who also broke into the poll, knocked out previously ranked Massachusetts (#19) and Ohio State (#23).
 
As a team, the Stags are ranked in the top 25 in seven different categories: 23^rd in scoring average (2.8), 22^nd in goals per game (2.83), 19^th in winning percentage (0.667), 10^th in assists per game (2.67), 14^th in points per game (8.33), second penalty corners per game (11.83), and 19^th in defensive saves (2.0).  Sophomore Felicitas Heinen is ranked in the top ten in two offensive categories, placing sixth in points per game with 2.83 and eighth in goals per game with 1.17. 
 
The No. 23-ranked Fairfield University field hockey team travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. for two games this weekend beginning with a matchup against St. Louis University on Friday at 1 pm. The team will face No. 16 Michigan (3-3) on Sunday beginning at 12 pm.  This will mark the first-ever meeting between Fairfield and both of these programs.
 
The Saint Louis Billikens enter the weekend with a 0-7 record after falling to Missouri State (4-2) and Georgetown (4-1) at home last weekend.  Lisa Smith and Tori Lycett currently lead SLU with three goals each, while goalkeeper Meg Depew-Brady owns a 5.33 goals-against average and .554 save percentage. 
 
The Wolverines split a pair of road contests against ranked opposition last weekend, defeating No. 21 Albany (2-1 OT) before falling to No. 7 Connecticut (2-1).  Junior Rachael Mack, Michigan's leading scorer in each of the last two years, notched her first two goals of the season last week and senior/junior goalkeeper Haley Jones boasted a career-best 11 saves in both of Michigan's recent road games.  Jones currently holds a total of 38 saves on the season with a save percentage of .792 and a goals-against average of 1.72.
 
Gametracker for this weekend's games can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Friday, September 14 - No. 23 Fairfield v. St. Louis at 1p.m.
Sunday, September 16 - No. 16 Michigan v. No. 23 Fairfield 12p.m.