FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team kept a share of the top spot in the Northeast Conference (NEC) standings by knocking off another unbeaten team in Rider University this afternoon.
Julianna Kratz was responsible for both goals, pushing shots past the goalkeeper in the first and second quarters.
The Stags and the Broncs started the afternoon in a four-way tie for first place with 1-0 conference records. The two teams displayed strong defensive efforts throughout the game but especially in the first half. Fairfield's back line did not allow Rider to take a shot in the first quarter and only yielded two more in the second quarter. The Stags were a little more effective in the offensive third, pushing five shots toward the goalmouth with two of those attempts finding the mark.
In the first quarter, Fairfield was awarded a penalty corner with five minutes remaining.
Danielle Profita stood over the ball and inserted the ball into play.
Gabby Saxon gained control of the ball and sent it over to the far side of the circle where Kratz unleashed a shot that caught the center of the goal to put the Stags in front by a goal.
The second quarter played off much like the first with each team gaining some traction but not enough to create challenging situations. It took some brilliance off a counter play to place Fairfield in position for its second goal of the game.
After Rider sent a ball down the center of the field to clear out their back third, goalkeeper
Zoe Rosen came out of the goalmouth and kicked the ball back into play. The ball was sent down the field and eventually found the stick of Augustina Casteluchi inside the circle. She quickly sent the ball across the circle where Kratz was waiting on the right side. She one-timed a shot into the corner of the goal for her second goal of the game and her fourth of the season.
Rider began to pick up its pace in the second half, with five of its seven shots coming over the final 30 minutes of play. The Broncs put one shot toward in the third quarter but peppered the Stags with four more shots in the fourth quarter. The most dangerous situation came with just over one minute on the clock when Tess and Kiki Van Ommeren both put shots on target just eight seconds apart. Rosen stepped up and kicked both shots away from any further complications to keep her shutout intact.
Rosen finished the game with three saves in 60 minutes of work, her fourth clean sheet and third in the last four outings. Rider goalkeeper Carlee Fulton also turned away three shots in 60 minutes of action.
Fairfield will resume conference play this Sunday when Sacred Heart University comes to University Field for a 1 pm game. The Stags will also honor their senior class prior to the game with the ceremony beginning approximately at 12:45 pm.
