Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team dropped its second straight Metro Atlantic Conference game on Friday night. The Stags fell to Rider 5-4.
Rider got off to a quick start by scoring in the seventh minute. But Fairfield quickly answered when Erin Buckley scored off a Ruth Smalbraak penalty corner in the ninth minute.
Rider then scored the next three goals of the game to head into halftime up 4-1.
Fairfield would not quit though, and came storming back in the second half. Ann Burgoyne ended her scoring drought by tipping in a Kaitlyn Taddeo pass. Then just three minutes later, she again found the back of the net off a pass from Emily McCauley.
Smalbraak tied the game at 4-4 in the 54th minute off a Maddi Haberl pass. The assist for Haberl marks the first of her career.
With just three minutes left in the game, Rider scored the game winning goal to claim the 5-4 victory. With the loss, the Stags drop to 0-2 in MAAC play.
Caitlin Bennett played well in cage for Fairfield recording 10 saves on the night. Burgoyne led the way with four points for the game, Smalbraak recorded three, Buckley had two, while McCauley and Taddeo each had one.
The Stags have an off day, but return to Fairfield for the last non-conference match of the season when they host Columbia at 1:00 pm.
