FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Come back wins are exciting for fans but they can also be rather stressful for coaches and players. After having to erase second-half deficits in its previous two wins, the Fairfield University field hockey team won its third straight game by leading from start to finish with its 5-0 decision over Saint Francis University (Pa.). The Stags scored in all four quarters including a pair of second-quarter goals and kept the Red Flash in their half of the pitch through most of the game.

"We always challenge the team to continue to get better every day and every game," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "We did not want regress even though we have had success. Today, I saw our team stay on task and remain focused toward that goal of getting better so that we are peaking at the end of the season when we are battling for postseason."

The reason that Fairfield has had to play catch up all season long is simply that the team had not scored a first-half goal in its first three games of 2019. That was not the case this afternoon as Malen Ingesias put Fairfield on the scoreboard just three minutes into the game. The goal was initiated off a penalty corner, one of 13 restarts earned by the Stags this afternoon. The first first-half goal of the season did not satisfy the Stags as they turned up pressure in the Saint Francis circle right from the start of the second quarter.

Page Lowry doubled Fairfield's advantage with a goal that was possible only through precision passing from Luzi Persiehl. The sophomore defender controlled the ball to the far left side of the circle, eluded a defender, and sent a ball toward the far post. Lowry found her way into open space and deflected the ball just inside the post. The advantage was raised to 3-0 10 minutes later as Julianna Kratz moved into the center of the circle and collected a cross from Danielle Profita. The freshman tucked a shot nearly inside the near post, sending Fairfield into intermission with a comfortable lead.

Faith Spaziano was responsible for the Stags third-quarter goal as she camped out in the middle of the circle and waited for Kratz to evade defenders and pass the ball to her. Kratz obliged and put a perfect pass onto the stick of Spaziano, who lifted the ball into the goal. The final goal of the game came with less than five minutes remaining in regulation as Profita converted a pass from Kelly Buckley. Buckley took the initial shot that was on target before Profita stuck out her stick and deflected the ball into the upper corner of the goal, the fifth different goal scorer of the day.

"This was a total team effort and that's exciting," Coach Kane said. "It was great that we had every player contribute to this win and it's important to get everyone involved. It's especially good to see our young players continue to grow and contribute to our success"

Zoe Rosen and Colette Morgan combined for the team's first shutout of the season despite not having to make any saves. Claudia Marzec made five saves in the St. Francis goal.

With the first home stand finished, the Stags will head west for a pair of games in St. Louis, playing Kent State and Indiana University in a pair of neutral site games. Fairfield returns home on September 20 when it hosts Columbia University for a 4 pm meeting at University Field.