WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairfield University field hockey team's hopes of winning back-to-back conference championships came to an end on Sunday afternoon as the Stags dropped a 2-1 decision to top-seeded and host Monmouth University at So Sweet A Cat Field.

                Fairfield left it all on the field as the team controlled tempo and play throughout the first half. The Stags offensive pressure kept the Hawks from mounting any type of offensive flow, a strategy that Fairfield perfected in its semifinal win over Rider two days ago. Head Coach Jackie Kane watched her team take 11 shots in the first half with several of those attempts just missing the target.

                Senior Sam Giordano had two opportunities off penalty corners but one shot was kicked away at the last moment and the other just skipped wide of the post. But with all of those chances available, the Stags were unable to capitalize on the chances with led to both teams going into halftime still tied at 0-0.

                "We just didn't take advantage of the opportunities that we had in the first half," Coach Kane said. "We took a lot of shots but only put three on goal and that was a really big difference in today's game."

                The second half saw Monmouth play more aggressively especially in the opening minutes of the period. Just three minutes into the half, Ireen Frenken put the home team in front with her fourth goal of the season, a score that was set up off a pass from Meg de Lange.

                 Less than four minutes later, Monmouth took advantage of a break away opportunity that found its leading scorer Georgia Garden Bachop unmarked in the middle of the circle. The senior redirected a cross past the charging goalkeeper to double the Monmouth advantage to 2-0.

                  Fairfield found its way back into the Monmouth final third and began to press more effectively in the final 10 minutes. It was during this renaissance that the Stags were finally able to break through the Hawks' defense. Corrine Persichetti took control of ball inside 25 yards and made a quick diagonal cut toward the goal. Drawing a couple of defenders, the senior sent the ball into the circle where Emma Matlach was able to collect the pass and spin a shot past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 with 11 minutes left in regulation.

                 The Stags made several attempts to tie the game down the stretch but the Hawks packed the circle with as many defenders as they could to turn away each attempt.

                 Persichetti and Giordano joined Cassie Hughes as the Stags' representatives on the MAAC All-Championship Team. The Stags finished the 2018 season with a 12-9 overall record as the number three seed in the MAAC tournament.