FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In every win streak, there is a game that truly tests a team's resolve. For the Fairfield University field hockey team, one of those games came this afternoon against a disciplined Columbia University team that tested the Stags before falling to Fairfield by a 1-0 score. The victory extended Fairfield's winning streak to six and gave the team a 6-1 record.

                Defense dominated in the first half as the two teams combined for a total eight shots with each team putting four attempts toward goal. Only two of those shots actually made it to the goal where each goalkeeper made a save to keep the game scoreless at the half. With neither team able to muster much offensively, the Fairfield coaching staff huddled during the 10-minute break and tried to come up with new ways to attack the opposition.

                "We changed a few things with our structure because they were causing a lot of chaos in the midfield that caught us off guard," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "So we made those adjustments and that really seemed to help us and give us more confidence in the second half."

                Fairfield's front began to attack more methodically and was able to create some momentum inside the circle. Opportunities became more forthcoming as the pressure began to force Columbia to stay back and defend rather than attack. The Stags had just one penalty corner in the first half but earned three in the third and fourth quarters to give them a total of seven by the final whistle.

                But despite their best efforts, Columbia goalkeeper Alexa Conomikes was equally stubborn in the cage and turned away any shot that made it through the defense. She posted two saves in the third quarter and added one more in the fourth quarter to keep Fairfield off the scoreboard.

                The Lions managed to counter on several occasions and make runs at the Fairfield goal. For the most part, the Stags backs were able to limit any danger with solid play. On one occasion, Columbia's leading scorer Jennifer Trieschman made a solid run down the left flank and seemed destined to put a shot on goal. However, defender Kelly Buckley ran her down and aggressively shielded the senior away from the goal which eventually led to a turnover and ended the threat.

                "Our defense is a wall and we rely on them," Kane said. "And Zoe (Rosen) really was a general out there today as well. She was an extra set of eyes. When things were a little chaotic in the first half, Zoe kept us together and really helped out the backs. We build off our defense and that was evident today."

                Fairfield finally broke through in the closing minutes, a chance that was started when the team was awarded a penalty corner. The restart began with Mackenzie Boyle sending the ball to the top of the circle where it was played to the center of the circle. After a deflection by Columbia, Faith Spaziano controlled the loose ball and sent it back toward goal. Page Lowry accepted the ball and pushed it past the goalkeeper with 2:35 remaining in regulation. The goal was the freshman's team-leading fourth goal of the season but it was her first game winner. Along with Julianna Kratz, two of the team's top three scorers are rookies.

                With Lowry proving to be the deciding factor today offensively and a solid effort from the Stags' defenders and goalkeeper, the Stags managed to win a game that could have gone either way.

                "I think we have a little more confidence than what we had in the past," Kane said. "We gained that confidence from previous wins which allowed us to stay composed."

                Winning streaks have a tendency to do that for a team.