FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Field Hockey returns to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) portion of the 2018 schedule this Friday with a 7 p.m. visit to Rider. The Stags enter the weekend as one of two teams with unblemished MAAC records at 2-0 as a part of a 10-3 overall mark.
 
Most recently, the Stags were on the short side of a 2-1 loss at Providence on Sunday afternoon. Emma Matlach provided the offense with her team-leading eighth goal of the campaign – assisted by Kaley McMullen – but the Friars made their two first-half markers stand up despite six saves by Fairfield goalkeeper Zoe Rosen.
 
Friday's matchup in Lawrenceville pits the MAAC's top scoring offense against the conference's stingiest defense. Rider (7-5, 1-1 MAAC) is scoring 3.08 goals per game, led by nine markers from Tess Coorens, with the Stags ceding only 1.16 goals per contest – good for seventh in the nation. Individually, Rosen's goals-against average of 1.00 ranks fifth in the nation and her .810 save percentage is currently third in the country.
 
Since joining the MAAC in 2015, Fairfield is 2-1 against Rider. The Stags claimed a 1-0 decision last season in New Jersey behind a penalty stroke goal from Erin Buckley '18.
 
After Friday night's clash, the Stags will visit Columbia on Sunday afternoon for a non-conference tilt. The Lions, who will travel to Penn for an Ivy League contest on Friday, begin the weekend at 6-4, including wins over MAAC opponents Monmouth and Bryant.
 
MAAC action returns to University Field next Friday, Oct. 19 for a pivotal 4 p.m. visit from Monmouth. The Hawks are currently 8-5 overall and 3-0 in the MAAC entering a weekend that features clashes with Drexel and Sacred Heart.