FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For the second time in as many seasons, the Fairfield University field hockey team will head to West Long Branch, N.J. for a chance to win a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The Stags earned one of the four spots in the 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament, an event which sends the winner to the national tournament.

Last season, Fairfield captured the MAAC title at So Sweet A Cat Field on the campus of Monmouth University, the home pitch of the regular-season champions. The Hawks captured the top seed by virtue of its unbeaten conference record, sweeping its way to a 5-0 record which includes a 2-0 win over Fairfield at University Field in late October. Second-seeded Rider University, the third-seeded Stags, and fourth-seeded Sacred Heart University round out the four-team tournament. Fairfield and Rider will face one another in the first tournament semifinal game which begins at 11 am. Sacred Heart will square off against the host school at 2 pm with the two winners meeting on Sunday.

The Hawks have enjoyed a great deal of success at home this season, winning all eight of its games on So Sweet A Cat Field which helped the team finish the regular season with an 11-6 overall record. Monmouth also went through the conference season without a blemish, winning all five contests by a combined score of 24-4. Georgia Garden Bachop leads the team in scoring with 15 goals and four assists for 34 points which also led all MAAC student-athletes

Rider (11-7 overall) finished the MAAC campaign with a 4-1 record,which included a  2-1 overtime victory over the Stags in mid-October. The Broncs have a pair of potent scorers who also rank among the conference's top scorers. Tess Coorens leads the team with 27 total points, registering 12 goals and three assists in her 18 appearances. Carly Brosious is not far behind with 25 total points, posting 10 goals and five assists in 18 games played.

Fairfield reached double figures in the win column this year, ending the regular season with an 11-8 overall record which included a 3-2 MAAC mark. The Stags have four double-digit scorers to date with Emma Matlach leading the way with 11 goals and seven assists for 29 points. Danielle Profita is next in line with 19 points, netting seven goals and dishing off five assists. 

Sacred Heart rounds out the four-team field by earning a 2-3 record in MAAC play as well as an 8-11 overall record, placing the Pioneers into the tournament as the number four seed. Colleen McAninley paces the Pioneers offense with nine goals and three assists for 21 points, while Kelsy Hopkins has 17 points off seven goals and three assists. The duo has combined for three game-winning goals with McAninley owning two of those deciding scores.