NEWARK, Del. – Coming from behind has become the norm over the last week for the Fairfield University field hockey team. In both Northeast Conference Tournament games, the Stags trailed before coming back to win and eventually take the conference title. Today, the Stags almost did it again but fell short in an overtime thriller against #17 University of Delaware in the opening round of the NCAA Field Hockey Championship.

Fairfield trailed by three goals with 23 minutes remaining in the second half but did not fret. The Stags methodically worked their way back into the game with strong structure and an aggressive attack that eventually broke through in the third quarter.

Delaware scored a goal in each of the first three quarters to grab what seemed to be a decisive lead, the last of which came five minutes into the third quarter. Despite the score, Fairfield's offense had more shots and penalty corners but was not able to solve goalkeeper Lizzie Gaebal.

Fairfield finally found a small opening a few minutes after Grace Hoepfner gave the home team its three-goal margin. Julianna Kratz was the one who beat the goalkeeper to the near post after Danielle Profita inserted the ball off a penalty corner with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.

"We just never give up," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "We just need that one then we know we can get more. Jules shot put us on the board and set us up for success in the rest of the second half."

The Stags continued to move forward with urgency, knowing that just 20 minutes stood between them and an undesired result. Fairfield earned a penalty stroke with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, sending Malen Iglesias to the spot. The senior hovered over the ball and then flicked it to the right side of the goal, beating the diving goalkeeper and bringing the Stags within a goal.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Fairfield continued to press Delaware with the hopes of picking a loose ball or working its way into a penalty corner. The Stags were successful at the latter, earning four insertions in the final quarter.

On the final corner, Fairfield had just 12 seconds remaining in regulation to make something happen. And the Stags did just that. Profita sent the ball to the top of the circle where Luzi Persiehl accepted the ball. She sent a pass to the left side of the circle where Iglesias was waiting. She released a shot that found the back of the net with four seconds remaining, giving the Stags another chance in overtime.

"Malen has ice in her veins and she showed that with the penalty stroke and then with the equalizer with four seconds left," Coach Kane said. "She literally carries everybody on her back when needed. She is the heart and soul of this team and that was evident today."

However, Delaware had the better of things in extra time, accounting for all four shots registered in the 10-minute period. On one of those earlier attempts, goalkeeper Zoe Rosen extended the game by coming off her line for a breakaway and made a sliding save to end the threat.

The game-winning goal came with nine seconds left in first overtime as Femke Strien secured the ball outside the right corner of the circle and made a run to center where she flicked the ball over a diving Rosen, a shot that caught the far corner of the goal and ended the game.

Rosen made three saves in the match while her counterpart Gaebel registered seven stops. The Stags returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2019 when it won its opening round game against #23 American University before falling to #2 UConn in overtime.

The Stags held a 16-13 advantage in shot and a 9-4 edge in penalty corners. Fairfield finished the season with a 14-8 overall record, winning six straight games before today's result.