NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The goal for every team is to win each time it takes the field or court. While it's a lofty goal for any head coach, it's that ambition which can differentiate between a mediocre season, a good season, and a memorable season. The Fairfield University field hockey team is on the verge of making this as memorable season in quite some time after today's 4-2 road win over Sacred Heart University.

                The game represented the first in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play for Fairfield and allowed the Stags to put their collective foot forward as they strive to defend their MAAC championship won last November. And, the win extended the team's winning streak to a program record seven games and improved the team's overall record to 9-1.

                "The winning streak is a testament to the team's effort over the last few weeks," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "But our focus is to win the conference again and going further in the NCAA tournament. And to do that, we need to win every game we can. What's more impressive to me is that this team continues to put itself in position to win every time we play."

                After a sluggish start to today's game, Fairfield seemed to find its rhythm midway through the first half. Sacred Heart pressured up front and kept the Stags defenders busy for the first 10 minutes of the contest. But the defense handled the early offensive thrust and kept the game scoreless, giving the offense the opportunity to begin stringing together passes that led to longer possessions and created some chances inside the circle.

                Corrine Persichetti tallied the first goal of the game when Fairfield was awarded a penalty stroke in the 22^nd minute and the senior flicked the ball into the far left corner of the goal to push the Stags in front, 1-0.

                "It was really important that Corrine stepped up and finished that stroke for us," Coach Kane said. "It's been a goal of her to get more opportunities and she handled it really well."

                The goal seemed to kick start the Stags offense as it would find the back of the cage two more times over the next five minutes. Meghann Maguire set up the team's second goal with a pass to the far post that Emma Matlach was able to redirect past the goalkeeper to double the Stags' advantage to 2-0 with 11 minutes left in the first half.

                The Stags would extend their lead before the half as Matlach combined with Danielle Profita on a similar play that also resulted in a goal. Matlach sent a pass from the left center of the circle that Profita was able to corral and push past the Sacred Heart goalkeeper, giving the Stags command at 3-0 going into halftime.

                The Pioneers tried to force play at the start of the second half, but for the most part, Fairfield was able to turn aside most of those opportunities. Sacred Heart finally broke through in the 48^th minute when Kelsy Hopkins smartly found her position in front of the goal to collect a rebound and one-time a shot past the goalkeeper to bring the deficit down to two goals, 3-1.

                Sacred Heart was presented with a penalty stroke 16 minutes later which Alle Brouhard calmly skipped past the goalkeeper to bring the score to 3-2 with just under seven minutes remaining. With the team within range of a comeback, the Pioneers brought a kicking back into the game to gain an extra field player. Fairfield took advantage of the pulled goalkeeper when Malen Iglesias converted a pass from Matlach to put the game out of reach at 4-2.

                The Stags have a day off on Saturday before going up against ninth-ranked Boston College on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles come to University Field for a 1 pm match up.