FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A few years have past since Monmouth University and Fairfield University met on the field hockey pitch. But when they did meet during a four-year run in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) field hockey play, the matches had meaning.

On Friday, the Hawks will come to University Field for the Stags' home opener for a 4 pm match, the first date between these two teams since Monmouth defeated Fairfield in the 2018 MAAC Championship game in West Long Branch, N.J. One year earlier, the two teams faced each other once again for a conference title and a berth to the NCAA tournament with the Stags edging the Hawks by a 2-1 count.

Now, the two programs face each other as members of different conferences as Monmouth plays out of the America East Conference while Fairfield is a member of the Northeast Conference for field hockey. Regardless of affiliation, Head Coach Jackie Kane knows that the game will be an early challenge for the Stags.

"It will be good to have Monmouth on the schedule which will add to the excitement of our home opener," Coach Kane said. "They were one of our rivals when we were part of the MAAC and we always seem to meet in the conference tournament. Monmouth is coming off a really great weekend. We are going to have to play our best and put together a good effort against a quality opponent."

Monmouth comes off a weekend split on opening weekend, falling at Boston University by a 2-1 score before rallying for a victory over Northeastern at home by a 6-5 count. After falling behind 4-2, the Hawks scored three straight to take the lead only to see it disappear when Northeastern scored with under a minute remaining in regulation. Lorane Vanneste won the game in the sixth minute of overtime with her second goal of the game for Monmouth.

The Stags split their opening weekend road trip by falling to 20^th-ranked Saint Joseph's by a 4-0 score before edging Albany with a 2-1 final. Fairfield scored the final two goals of the game against the Great Danes with Madison Hoskins tying the score and Malen Iglesias netting the deciding goal in the third quarter.

Goalkeeper Zoe Rosen picked up where she left off last season in terms of success, allowing just one goal over the final six quarters of the road trip and picking up 18 saves in the two games. After posting seven saves against nationally-ranked Saint Joseph's, Rosen responded with 11 saves in the win at Albany, giving her 18 saves in her two appearances. The graduate student currently ranks sixth in the nation with 9.0 saves per game.

"Zoe was amazing and really kept us in the game against Albany," Coach Kane said. "Her experience is guiding her through right now. She has the ability to anticipate shots. She is one of our few returning defensive players so she is an important part how successfully we are in the back."

The Stags will close out the weekend with a road game against intrastate foe Yale University, the first meeting between these two programs since the 2012 campaign. Fairfield posted a 4-0 victory that season, the only Stags shutout in the series.

The Bulldogs open their season with a pair of home games with Merrimack College serving as the home opener before Fairfield comes to the New Haven campus. The two contests will be the first for the program since the 2019 season when Yale won its last three games of the season and finished the campaign with a 7-10 overall record.

Currently, all Fairfield University Athletics home events are open to the public in all sports. Fans are reminded that masks are required for entry to all Fairfield University indoor facilities, regardless of vaccination status. The University will continue to abide by CDC, campus, and local guidelines.