FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University and Temple University field hockey teams could not have stretched this game out much more. with just one minute on the clock separating the two teams from a shootout, the Owls used a counterattack following a Stags penalty corner to score the game's only goal and leave University Field with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the home team. The result evened up the Stags' overall record at 3-3 while Temple improved to 4-1.

This game featured probably the best defensive effort put forth by both teams this season, as neither participant could find the back of the cage through the first four quarters of the game. Temple collected the only shot of the first quarter and accounted for three of the game's four total shots by halftime. Fairfield's lone attempt came off the stick of Malen Iglesias just two minutes into the quarter, a play set up by Danielle Profita's penalty corner.

The second half featured more scoring opportunities as the offenses began getting a feel for the opposing defenses. The Stags took four shots in the third quarter but none of them even made it to the goalkeeper as the Temple defenders turned away those opportunities before they became too dangerous. The Owls managed six shots from inside the circle, but Fairfield goalkeeper Zoe Rosen was equal to the task. She made four saves over the 15 minutes to give her six stops in regulation. 

The first overtime reverted back to the defensive domination of the game's first half as both teams spent most of their time in the middle third of the pitch. Each team managed just one shot over the 10 minutes with Malen Iglesias taking the try for the Stags in the 68th minute. Temple goalkeeper Megan Ragusa kicked away Iglesias' shot, the first save that she had to make during the afternoon. Things began to open up in the second overtime which resulted in Fairfield's best offensive chance of the day. Just one minute into the period, Profita picked up a loose ball inside the circle and tried to flick the ball into upper corner of the goal, but her shot sailed over the cross bar and kept the game scoreless.

The game came to an end in the 79th minute despite things looking good for the home team. Fairfield was granted a penalty corner with about 90 seconds left in the game. Profita restarted the action with an insertion pass that eventually landed in front of Iglesias. She hit a solid shot that was stopped by Ragusa and started a counterattack by the Owls. Kerrie Lorenz carried the ball for nearly the entire length of the field before cutting wide inside the circle to create space. Rosen came off her line to try to cut down the shot angle, but Lorenz was able to slip the ball past the charging goalkeeper and into the back of the net for the game winner.

Rosen finished the game with eight saves from Temple's 18 shot attempts, while Ragusa made three stops off Fairfield's 11 shots. 

"Our defense kept us in the game today especially with great play from Zoe (Rosen)," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "Offensively, we need to finish in the circle which we did not do today. We had an opportunity to end the game and didn't take advantage which gave Temple a chance to counter and they finished the play to win the game."

The Stags will play their next game at home when they host Columbia University on Friday, September 17. Game time is scheduled for 4 pm.