FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team saw its four-game home winning streak come to an end with a 2-1 setback against Hofstra University in a match that was decided by a shootout. It was the team's first shootout since dropping a decision at LIU during the 2021 spring season.

The Stags had the better of things in the first half, creating ample opportunities inside the circle only to be turned away by goalkeeper Cece DeSimone. Fairfield managed six shots in the opening 30 minutes with two of their four attempts being on goal in the first quarter and none of their two tries in the second quarter.

Fairfield continued to be the aggressor in the third quarter and that paid off in the first two minutes of the period. The play started off a penalty corner which the Stags worked around the perimeter of the circle. Once it reached the far side, Gabby Saxon was able to work the ball back into the center of the circle with smart stick skills, eventually finding Danielle Profita open. The graduate student accepted the pass and hit a back hander that eluded the goalkeeper to put the Stags in the lead with just 1:38 elapsed in the third quarter.

Goalkeeper Zoe Rosen kept the Pride off the scoreboard for the first 55 minutes of play, kicking away the only two shots that reached her. She registered a save in the third quarter and another in the fourth quarter. Later in the final period, Hofstra used a counter attack with a couple of long passes, the last of which found the stick of Eline Oldeman. She spun past a defender and dropped a back hander past the charging goalkeeper, catching the far corner of the goal.

Hofstra found more offensive rhythm in the overtime period, holding a 5-3 edge in extra time. All of Fairfield's shots came in the first overtime, one of which required a goalkeeper intervention. The Pride took all three shots in the second overtime with Rosen blocking two of those attempts to keep the game tied.

In the shootout, Fairfield's Jolanda Richter was the only successful shooter as goalkeeper Merlijn van der Vegt kept the Stags off balance. Rosen finished the game with five saves for the Stags while the Hofstra goalkeeper combo of DeSimeone (two saves) and van der Vegt (three saves) combined for five stops as well.

Fairfield will play its final home game of the 2021 regular season on Friday when Saint Francis Pa. comes to University Field for a 4 pm match. The game is a Northeast Conference (NEC) game as well as the Stags remain in first place within the standings with a 4-0 record.