Box Score                 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. –Head Coach Jackie Kane talked about the focus and resolve of the 2019 edition of the Fairfield University field hockey team. The Stags backed up her observation all season long by winning all 11 games decided by one goal, including five matches that went to overtime. But none of those previous 10 contests were more important than today's 2-1 victory over Rider University in the Northeast Conference Tournament championship game, sending the Stags to the NCAA tournament.

                Madison Hoskins posted the game winning goal less than three minutes into the first overtime, as she knocked in the rebound off an initial shot from Luzi Persiehl. Persiehl has had a hand in all five overtime game winners, scoring three times and assisting on the deciding goal twice.

                "We play with a lot of grit and have been focused all season on winning this game," Coach Kane said. "It's a result of believing in each other and believing in the game plan. At the end of the day, this team is willing to put itself on the line every day in games and more importantly in practice. That's why we have been successful and that's why we won this game."

                Today's game was a familiar script that this team seemed to follow in the regular season and continued to follow with few rewrites into the postseason. The Stags did not score a first half goal for the 10^th time this season, rather waiting until the second half to make their move.

                Fairfield and Rider, which played to a scoreless tie in the first half of their regular-season meeting before the Stags won in overtime, played the way two teams usually do when they meet in a championship game. Both teams were willing to yield space and passing lanes in the middle third of the pitch but clamped down when the ball went into either defensive third.

                The two teams combined for just three shots, all of which were on target,  in the first quarter with Rider being credited with two of those attempts. Fairfield picked up its offensive pressure in the second quarter by creating three scoring chances which required Rider goalkeeper Lena Vandam to make one save.

                Fairfield was able to move the ball throughout the game and kept Rider's defenders on the run. But the Broncs were able to prevent Fairfield from setting up any offensive momentum. Late in the third quarter, the Stags earned a penalty corner with three minutes left on the clock. The Stags used precision passing to chase the ball around the circle before it found the stick of Kelly Buckley. The defender sent the ball toward goal where Julianna Kratz was able to deflect the ball into an open corner of the goal to put Fairfield in front with 1:48 left in the quarter.

                Rider showed its own resiliency in the fourth quarter and pushed forward out of necessity, looking for the tying goal to keep its season alive. That pressure eventually provided the equalizer with under four minutes left in regulation as Kaitlyn Flemming deflected a shot that caught the upper corner near side to make the score 1-1. By quarter's end, Rider had outshot Fairfield by a 4-0 which provided the second-seeded team with a slight 8-7 edge in shots.

                The Stags needed little time to score the game winner, collecting a penalty corner nearly three minutes into the overtime period. Luzi Persiehl secured the ball at the top of the circle, side-stepped a defender and moved closer to goal. She ripped a shot that was on goal but was blocked a defender. The rebound caromed to Hoskins who slapped a shot that beat the goalkeeper near side, giving the championship to the Stags.

                "I knew if we played well that we would put ourselves into a good position to win the game," Kane said. "I really thought this was one of our best hockey games played ever. We didn't have any corners in the first half so we didn't have a chance to run any set plays. On that last corner, we had options for Luzi to shoot or pass it over to Kelly (Buckley). Luzi made a good play and a good decision and Madison was in the right position to finish for us."

                Fairfield received another outstanding effort from goalkeeper Zoe Rosen, who made five saves. The junior made two stellar saves while on the ground that kept the game scoreless early in the third quarter. Rosen, who ranks 14^th in the nation for goals against average and save percentage, finished the tournament with seven saves.

                Hoskins was named the tournament most valuable player, joining Julianna Kratz, Mackenzie Boyle, and Malen Iglesias on the All-Tournament team.

                Fairfield will find out its NCAA opponent on Sunday night when the NCAA selection show airs on NCAA.com beginning at 10 pm.