PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Overtime games are always memorable especially when you are on the winning side of the result. For the fourth time this season and second consecutive game, the 24^th-ranked Fairfield University field hockey team picked up a victory in extra time with its 2-1 decision over Villanova University this afternoon.

                This game will be just as memorable for Head Coach Jackie Kane as the 25-year mentor picked up her 200^th career victory with the decision. Kane is enjoying her seventh season with 10 or more wins as the team improved to 12-2 overall  

                While the team's unblemished 4-0 overtime record is exceptional, it's even more remarkable that sophomore Luzi Persiehl has had a hand in scoring the golden goal in every one of those contests. Today, the defender posted her third game-winning goal of the season, all in overtime, just six minutes into the first overtime to send Fairfield over the top.

                But before Persiehl's heroics were even a thought, the Stags needed a strong effort against their Big East opponent to get to extra time. Unlike last Friday's game when Fairfield scored in the final minute of regulation, today saw the Stags take the lead with the game's first goal.

                Fairfield scored the game's first goal and held the lead after the first quarter for only the third time this season. The goal occurred on the effort of Emma Matlach who put the ball in the back of the cage with less than two minutes left in the period. The play began with Julianna Kratz taking control of the ball and finding Matlach for the shot. For Kratz, the assist was her sixth of the season which ties her for the team's top spot along with Danielle Profita.

                The goal appeared as though it would hold up as goalkeeper Zoe Rosen kept Villanova off the scoreboard through the first three quarters. The junior made saves on the Wildcats' first five shots that were on target, including three saves in the final four-plus minutes of the third quarter. It wasn't until the latter part of the fourth quarter that Villanova was able to break through the Stags stingy defense.

                Christen Pennington scored Villanova's equalizer with just under six minutes left in regulation when she converted a pass from Emma McLaughlin for her fifth goal of the season. It would be the last shot by either team for the remaining five-plus minutes, sending the game into overtime.

                The game didn't have to go too long into extra time as Fairfield ended the game with Persiehl's shot that caught the corner of the cage and sent Coach Kane home with her milestone victory.

                Fairfield will return to Northeast Conference play next week when it finishes up its three-game road swing with games at Wagner College on October 24 and concludes the week at Merrimack College on October 26.