STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Heading into the final quarter of the 2021 Northeast Conference (NEC) game, Head Coach Jackie Kane knew the Stags field hockey team needed to do something that it had not done too often this year. In the 80 quarters played in regulation prior to today's match with LIU, Fairfield had scored two goals in a quarter seven times.

As it turned out, the Stags had another multi-goal quarter left in them, posting a season-best three goals in the fourth quarter to defeat LIU 3-1 and capture their second NEC Championship in the last three years.

"We switched things up on corners in the fourth quarter and that led to us getting that first goal," Coach Kane said. "That gave us confidence and set things up for us the rest of the quarter."

For the third straight game, Fairfield found itself trailing early in the game as LIU scored just 96 seconds into the first quarter. The Stags yielded a penalty corner to set up the Sharks with their first offensive opportunity. Saarah Olton was able to finish a play set up by Emma Braeckmans and Sol Espona with a shot that caught the far corner of the cage.

Fairfield seemed to gain momentum in the second quarter as the team built more offensive chances during the second 15-minute period. The Stags earned five penalty corners in the second quarter which led to four shots, two of which forced saves from LIU goalkeeper Rachel Vellis. The two teams went into the halftime break separated by that one early goal despite the Stags owning advantages in both shots and penalty corners.

The third quarter did not offer much in terms of scoring chances as LIU was credited with the only shot of the 15-minute stretch. The play resulted in a shot on goal but Fairfield goalkeeper Zoe Rosen was available to turn the shot away.

With the possibility of just 15 minutes remaining in their season, the Stags entered the team huddle in between quarters looking for answers on how to solve the LIU defense. Somewhere in that two-minute span, Fairfield seemed to find the solution.

Danielle Profita started the Stags comeback with her redirect of a Luzi Persiehl pass just two minutes into the fourth quarter. Jolanda Richter was next up for the Stags as she accepted a pass from Persiehl and beat the goalkeeper to the near post to give the Stags their first lead of the game. And finally, Persiehl made the most of opportunity with a goal in the 57^th minute as freshman Agustina Casteluchi set up the senior with a crisp pass from just inside the circle.

For the second straight game, the Stags defense shutdown the opposition by allowing just seven shots with only five reaching the goalkeeper. Rosen was on task once again by registering four saves to keep LIU off the scoreboard over the final 58 minutes of the game.

Jolanda Richter earned the tournament most valuable player for her play in the two games, scoring a goal in both the semifinal and championship matches.

The Stags will advance to the NCAA Tournament with the victory and will find out is opening round opponent on Sunday night when the NCAA announces the pairings at 10 pm.