PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Fairfield University field hockey team drops to .500 on the season (6-6) with a 3-1 loss to Brown this afternoon in Providence, R.I.

Sophomore Meghan O'Donnell  scored a hat trick with all three goals for the Bears.   Brown jumped on the board just 2:48 into the first half to take a 1-0 lead.  After an initial shot by junior Maggie Brady went wide of the cage, the Stags attempted to clear the ball.  On the restart, O'Donnell picked off a Fairfield pass inside the circle, pulled goalie Casey Heely out of the cage and fired the ball behind her for her second of the season.  O'Donnell doubled the lead 15 minutes later when she picked up her own rebound and lifted it over Heely from point-blank range at 17:16.  The Bear capped her hat trick with 6:28 remaining in the half.  Following a Fairfield corner, the Bears countered up field, looking for a fast break opportunity.  Liza Green started the play near the 50-yard line when she sent a long pass up the right sideline to freshman Hannah Rogers.  Rogers fed O'Donnell, alone in the center of the circle, with a cross and the sophomore one-timed the ball past Heely to give Brown the 3-0 lead.

Fairfield got on the board before the break at the 32:40 mark.  Sophomore Sarah Wickles had her second goal of the season and the Stags' lone goal of the game after controlling a loose ball in the circle and shooting at an open net. 

In the second half, Fairfield outshot the Bears 10-4 but were unable to get any past Brown goalkeeper Shannon McSweeney who had nine saves on the day.  The Stags had 18 shots on the day and 13 penalty corners compared to the Bears' five.  Freshman Heely had her first collegiate start as she played all 70 minutes and tallied three saves on the day.

The Fairfield field hockey team will next take the field on Wednesday as they host Siena at 3pm.  The squad will then travel to Orono, Maine for a conference matchup against No. 24 University of Maine on Saturday at 1pm.