FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team suffered a difficult loss in its third straight home game of the season falling in overtime to Columbia University by a score of 4-3.  Although the team's offense had success early, their defense struggled to hold the lead late in the game leading to overtime and ultimately gave up the winning goal to Columbia. 

The Stags started off the game strong when Jaclyn Gallagher netted the first goal just 4 minutes into the game off of a penalty corner assisted by Lilly Auch. Fairfield would finish out the half with the 1-0 advantage and looked dominant for the first 20 minutes of the second half.  In the 51^st minute, Erin Buckley would score off of a perfectly executed penalty corner, with the assist coming from Hannah Pike.  Less than three minutes later, Andrea Soler sent an impressive backhanded shot into the goal as she fell over the goalkeeper trying to make the save.  Danielle Profita was credited the assist. 

Although the Stags had a 3-0 advantage, Columbia battled back and took control of the game, scoring three goals in a row in the remaining 15 minutes of play.  The first came from Katherine Cavanaugh off a scramble in front of the goal as she made a diving play to push the ball past goalkeeper Caitlin Gilligan.  The next goal came with less than two minutes remaining as Whitney Hartstone poked in the rebound off a blocked shot by Gilligan.  The Stags would then call a timeout to regroup for the final minute and a half of play but Columbia continued to put pressure on the defense.  With under a minute remaining, the Lions received a penalty corner and Lauren Crane tipped in the initial shot by Maeve Doherty for the equalizing goal giving Doherty the assist. 

The 3-3 score would carry the two teams into overtime.  The teams went back and forth for just about the entirety of the 15 minute overtime period.  With time about to expire, the Lions were awarded a penalty corner which would be the final play of the period.  Doherty took the initial shot that was redirected off of her own teammate Danielle Buttinger and was put in the net by Michelle Thompson for the winning goal. 

Fairfield outshot Columbia 19 to 17 and had 16 shots on goal to their nine but could not come up with the win in the overtime period.  

The Stags will begin a two game road trip when they take on UMASS Lowell in Massachusetts, on Friday, at 4pm.  They then head to Pennsylvania to face Villanova on September 20.