WEST LONG BRANCH, N.Y. – The Fairfield University field hockey team improved to 2-2 on the season this afternoon with a 5-4 overtime victory over Monmouth University.

The Hawks jumped on the scoreboard immediately at the 1:15 mark in the first half after a penalty corner by Kimmy Baligian.  Baligian sent the ball to Nicole Manziano at the top who set up the shot for Trish O'Dwyer who scored Monmouth's first goal of the season, and put the Hawks up, 1-0.  The Stags responded in the 13th minute with a goal by sophomore Felicitas Heinen, her fourth on the season.  The goal was the result of a penalty corner taken by Emily Leo and passed to Val Buurma. 

Fairfield's Shealyn's Testa put one in the back of the net for the Stags at the 20:30 mark to take their first lead of the game, 2-1.  But Monmouth responded within the next minute tying the game at two apiece after the ball reflected off a Fairfield defender's stick.  Before the period ended, the Hawks added one more goal to take the lead, 3-2.  Junior Ali Askinas had the goal on an assist by Tara Brown.

Monmouth added onto their lead 20 minutes into the second half after another penalty corner by Baligian.  Michelle Pieczynski had the goal with an assist by Brown.  Just three minutes after, at the 58:27 mark Molly Caffrey for the Stags had her first goal of the season on an assist by Heinen to make the score 4-3 with just over ten minutes left to play.  With just one second left on the clock, Sarah Wickles scored her first goal of the season on an assist by Heinen to tie the game at four-all and force overtime. 

Hillary Fitts had the first shot of the overtime period two minutes in, but missed wide.  McLucas followed up two minutes later and scored the final goal of the game at the 74:16 mark off a penalty corner.

Fairfield (2-2) will next take the field on Friday, September 7 at 4pm on University Field.  The Stags will host Lehigh University for their first of two home games over the weekend.  On Sunday, the Stags will hold their Friends Event at 11:30 Oak Room terrace (Barone Campus Center) before they face Saint Joseph's on University Field at 1pm.