FAIRFIELD, Conn.— The Fairfield University field hockey team will battle the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Sunday at 11:00 am in the MAAC Championship Game. The championship will be played at So Sweet A Cat Field on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The game will be streamed live on MAAC.tv.
No. 4 Fairfield (8-9, 3-3 MAAC) vs. No. 2 Quinnipiac (9-10, 5-1 MAAC): Just a week ago, the two teams faced off in the final regular season game and on Sunday will meet again for the MAAC Championship.
Last week, Quinnipiac topped the Stags 5-4 in overtime. Ann Burgoyne netted three goals for the Stags and 2015 MAAC Player of the Year, Julie de Paeuw, chipped in a fourth.
Semifinals: On Friday it was the Stags defense that proved the difference against Monmouth. Caitlin Bennett made eight saves in the 2-1 victory during their Semifinal matchup against the top seeded Hawks.
The 2015 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Ann Burgoyne, netted both goals for Fairfield. The scoring started early, just 2:09 into the game Burgoyne made a nifty move around the keeper and shot into the empty cage for the goal.
Monmouth tied the game at 1-1, but in the 60th minute it was none other than the junior forward Burgoyne to notch the game winning tally. Senior Emily McCauley fired a shot that Burgoyne deflected high over the keeper into the back of the net.
Looking Ahead: If the Stags can claim their first MAAC title they will earn an automatic bid to the 16-team NCAA Championship Tournament that begins on Saturday, November 14.
The last time the field hockey team reached the NCAA Tournament was in 2001 as a member of the Patriot League. Fairfield lost 7-1 to Maryland in the first round.
