LOWELL, Mass. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team opened its 2019 season on the road and the trip did not produce the result for which Head Coach Jackie Kane had hoped. The Stags were stopped in their first effort of the season as UMass Lowell earned a 3-0 win over the Stags on opening day.

The River Hawks used a quick paced offense to begin the game that kept the Stags in its defensive third for the opening minutes of the first quarter. After securing a pair of shots in the first few minutes, UMass Lowell was awarded a penalty corner following an infraction which set up the game's first goal. Fairfield goalkeeper Zoe Rosen made a save on the initial shot off the corner, but the ball rolled to the stick of Jenna Berger who one-timed the ball into the cage to give the lead to the home team.

Fairfield found its offensive rhythm in the second quarter and had the better scoring chances over that 15-minute period. Luzi Persiehl posted the team's first shot of the game but it was deflected before it reached the goalkeeper. A few minutes later, the Stags put together its most serious threat of the game when Page Lowry put a shot on target that was kicked away by River Hawks' goalkeeper Eva Berkhout. Less than a minute later, Madison Hoskins released a shot that was destined for the goal but once again Berkhout was able to redirect the attempt away from danger.

The penalty corner was the start of another UMass Lowell scoring opportunity as the River Hawks took advantage of the restart opportunity. The home team managed to gain a shot on the first penalty corner which Rosen pushed aside. However, the River Hawks were awarded another penalty corner and this time Morgan Irons found an opening in the Stags defense that resulted in the team's second goal. The lead went to 3-0 just four minutes later when Lindsey Kilpatrick redirected a pass past the defense. Jolanda Richter recorded the Stags lone shot on goal during the quarter, testing the River Hawks' defense in the game's 37th minute.

UMass Lowell outshot Fairfield in the final quarter by a 3-2 count with each of the home team's tries requiring a save from Rosen. Julianna Kratz and Faith Spaziano were responsible for the two Fairfield attempts but both shots skipped wide of the post.

Rosen finished the game with seven saves as she faced 16 shots while her counterpart Berkhout collected three saves off six Fairfield shots.

Fairfield will return to action on Sunday when it finishes up its Massachusetts weekend with a game at Boston College. The game begins at 1 pm.