FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team opened their season with a convincing 6-2 victory over Colgate on Saturday afternoon.

“It was an amazing way to open the season at home, six goals definitely makes a statement,” said head coach Jackie Kane.

The Stags (1-0) were unrelenting on the offensive end firing off 37 shots, 23 of which were on cage. The scoring began early, when just 3:45 into the game junior forward Ann Burgoyne made it 1-0 for the Stags. Four minutes later Burgoyne would find the back of the net once again from a pass off the stick of freshman defender Ariane Von Schenck. Just before the end of the first period freshmen Von Schenck and Ruth Smalbraak would notch their first career goals to put the Stags up 4-0 heading into the half.

Out of the break, Colgate (0-1) would get on the board after Whitney Jones received a pass from Jessica Gardiner and put it right past Stag keeper, Emma Singer. The Raiders tried to rally after that, cutting the deficit to two when Stina Ladd collected a rebound in front of the cage and was able to bury it in the back of net.

Fairfield would put an end to that scoring streak when Von Schenck would once again find Burgoyne in front of the net for her third goal of the day. The Stags then sealed the deal when Jamie Appelberg made a diving backhanded shot that fired past Raider keeper, Maria Krull.

“It was a total team effort today to secure the win, 20 players saw action on the field and we had three first time goal scorers,” added head coach Kane.

Fairfield saw tremendous contributions from their newcomers, with 8 new players getting playing time including three starters, Von Schenck, Smalbraak, and Singer.

Von Schenk tallied 1 goal and 2 assists in her debut. Smalbraak would add 1 goal, while Singer faced 7 shots and made 5 saves.

Burgoyne picked up right where she left off last season. In 2014, she was named the America East Player of the Year and earned first team honors in the conference. The forward finished the year ranked among the nation's statistical leaders. She tied for fourth in goals per game (1.00) and was 12th in points per game (2.05). During the preseason, the junior was tabbed as the Preseason MAAC Player of the Year for 2015, and showed why she deserves that title with a hat trick in the season opener.

The Stags are back in action on Friday, September 4 when they host Delaware at 4:00 pm.