FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- It was a game that box scores says should have gone the way of the Fairfield University field hockey team. But games are decided on paper but rather they are decided on the field. Despite outshooting Colgate University by a 20-8 margin, the Stags could not find the back of the cage but once and ended up with a 2-1 loss at University Field.

Fairfield applied pressure through most of the first half but a smart performance by Colgate Emma Goldberg kept the home team off the scoreboard. The Stags sent nine shots toward the goal with five being on target. But each time Fairfield looked as though it might break through, Goldberg kicked the chance away. Still, Fairfield's attack was relentless throughout the first 35 minutes as seven different student-athletes found a way to put a shot on goal.

Colgate used a strong counter attack to keep itself on task in the offensive third and generated most of its offense off the four penalty corners it earned. In fact, it was one of those corners that led to the only goal of the first half. The insertion was send to Taylor Casamassa who controlled the ball before releasing a shot toward the far post. Nikki Potter made a quick run toward the post once Casamassa pushed the ball forward and deflected the ball into the back of the cage for a 1-0 lead.

After halftime, Fairfield continued to push forward with urgency with the hope that one of those offensive thrusts would lead to a goal. The Stags were able to earn five penalty corners in the second half on its way to a total of nine, but none of those opportunities were finished with a goal. In the 61st minute, Fairfield was awarded a penalty stroke which sent the Stags' top scorer Emma Matlach to the spot. She calmly flicked the ball into the far corner of the goal to tie the game at 1-1.

With both teams making every effort to win the match in regulation, Colgate was the team that managed to post the deciding goal with just over five minutes remaining in the second half. Once again, the visitors took advantage of a penalty corner to set up a goal with Casamassa serving as the point person. Once she received the ball, she sent the ball back toward goal where Katie Anderson was able to put her stick on the ball and redirect a shot past the goalkeeper and several Fairfield defenders, recapturing the lead for Colgate at 2-1.

The Stags made several runs at tying the game in the closing minutes but were unable to push a shot past the Colgate keeper, resulting in the setback.

Matlach took five shots for the Stags with four being on the mark while Corrine Persichetti kept things moving up front with four shots for the Stags. 

Fairfield returns to the road for the final time in the regular season when it completes its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) season at LIU Brooklyn on Thursday afternoon. The Stags close out the regular season by hosting Saint Louis University on October 27 at University Field.