WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairfield University field hockey team fell to Monmouth, 4-3, in overtime this afternoon. Senior Felicitas Heinen and sophomores Ann Burgoyne and Julie de Paeuw scored one goal apiece for the Stags while goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett tallied five saves.

Fairfield started off strong, taking the first shot of the game, off of a penalty corner, at just 3:39. Play continued back and forth, with most of the first half remaining scoreless, until Trish O'Dwyer put the Hawks on the board at 32:05. She scored off a backhand shot after dribbling into the circle. Neither team was able to score for the rest of the half, giving Monmouth a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Stags battled back in the second half, with Heinen tying the game at 44:45. The goal was scored off a penalty corner and was assisted by Valerie Buurma and Emily Leo. About four minutes later, Fairfield took a 2-1 lead when de Pauew deflected a corner shot from Heinen into the net. Monmouth answered with a goal from Lauren Horner, at 59:09, to tie the game at 2-2.

At 64:27, the Hawks took a 3-2 lead off a penalty stroke goal by Cori Allen. A little over a minute later, Fairfield's Burgoyne scored an unassisted goal to once again tie the game, now at 3-3. Despite one more shot from Burgoyne, neither team was able to score again in regulation, sending the game into overtime.

The Stags took two shots in the first 10 minutes of overtime but were unable to find the back of the net. The final goal of the game was scored by the Hawks' Amanda Schoenfeld, at 81:05, sealing a 4-3 victory for Monmouth.

Bennett faced 10 shots on the day, stopping five, while Monmouth's Christen Piersanti made four saves. Fairfield was slightly out-shot 15-13 but both teams had an even 8-8 advantage in penalty corners.

Fairfield (4-6) is back in action on September 28 when the Stags take on defending Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) champion Delaware at 1pm. Fairfield will then return home to University Field to open America East conference play against New Hampshire on October 3 at 3pm.