FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Despite having the top seed locked up in its conference tournament next week, one might think that the Fairfield University field hockey look past their regular-season finale    But there was added incentives today and those incentives brought forth another strong effort as the 24th-ranked Stags earned a hard-fought 3-1 win over Drexel University. The victory extended the team's program-record win streak to nine games and improved the team's overall record to 16-2.

                One of those incentives was to earn a win for the team's lone senior Emily Halderson, a defender who has anchored the back line throughout her career. The team celebrated her career this afternoon as part of Senior Day with the tribute starting with a pregame ceremony and ended with a postgame celebration.

                "Our biggest incentive today to get a win for Emily," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "She is such a great leader and such a role model for not only the players but for the coaches.  We earned our 16th win but more importantly this was the best to honor all that Emily has done for the program."

                There was also a second incentive on the docket today. With the win over its Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponent today, Fairfield earned a win against every Division I field hockey conference this year. It's not something that gains an added advantage when the Stags take the field for next weekend's Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament.  But, the accomplishment is still something that can be added to the team's 2019 accolades.

                "I didn't plan our schedule with that in mind," Kane said. "It's just the way it worked out. After we got a win against an ACC team, I started to think about it. Then we picked up a win against the Big Ten and the Big East and I started think that it was a possibility."

                The Stags had to play from behind once again today, but a comeback is nothing new for this team. After a scoreless first quarter, Drexel found its way onto the scoreboard first by scoring in the 21st minutes of the game. The Dragons were awarded a penalty corner, one of six in the first half, and were able to find some openings in the circle. Puk Thewessen started the scoring opportunity with a shot that was headed on target before Tess Horan managed to redirect the shot into the upper portion of the goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

                Fairfield managed to tie the game less than three minutes later when Malen Iglesias started a magical play with her stick work around the midfield area. She sent the ball into the circle where Emma Matlach was able to deflect the ball to Page Lowry, who finished the play with a shot that caught the corner of the cage to tie the game.

                With the first half winding down, junior Danielle Profita used an extraordinary effort in the far corner of the field, working her way past a couple of defenders  to open a path to the goal. Drawing another defender and the goalkeeper, Profita sent a cross through the goal mouth where Lowry stood and one-timed a shot just inside the post with 28 seconds left in the half.

                The two teams played through a scoreless third quarter and nearly the entire fourth quarter but the Stags were able to take advantage when Drexel pulled its goalkeeper with four minutes left in regulation, hoping that extra attacker would yield a goal. Instead, the Stags gained control of the ball less than minute later and scored when Luzi Persiehl set up Emma Matlach after a penalty corner restart.
                Fairfield goalkeeper Zoe Rosen made five saves in the game, including a dynamic kick save that prevented the game-tying goal in the second half. Drexel goalkeeper Megan Hadfield posted six saves before being pulled with 4:47 left in regulation.

                The Stags will being their quest for the Northeast Conference tournament title on Friday when they play fourth-seeded Sacred Heart University on Friday. The winners from Friday's semifinals will advance to the NEC Tournament championship game on Sunday.