NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team put together the perfect blend of offense and defense this afternoon and that mixture was exactly what propelled the Stags to a 2-1 win over Yale on the road this afternoon. Danielle Profita tallied both goals to account for the offense while a collective defensive effort resulted in just eight shots for Yale including no attempts in the second or third quarters.

"We haven't had Yale on the schedule for some time," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "It was great to come back into this in-state rivalry with a win."

Both teams struggled to put together scoring chances in the opening quarter with only three shots being recorded between the two teams. Yale nearly took the lead on the first attempt of the game when Theodora Dillman received a pass off a penalty corner and sent a ball toward goal that ultimately caromed off the post which kept the game scoreless. Ymke Huisman was responsible for the team's lone shot in the opening quarter, a drive that came in the seventh minute.

Fairfield took control of the game in the second quarter, outshooting its opponent by an 8-0 count. The Stags set the tone early by releasing four shots in the opening two minutes, the first of which came from Profita which forced a save from goalkeeper Luanna Summer. Huisman, Malen Iglesias, and Page Lowry completed the early flurry, but Summer was equal to the task. Profita nearly put the Stags in front late in the quarter as well as she placed two shots on goal in the 26th minute, both of which were turned aside by Summer.

After a scoreless first half, the Stags finally broke through in the third quarter when Profita found the back of the cage at the 34:03 mark, a goal which was set up by a penalty corner. Huisman earned her first assist by receiving the corner and sending it back to Profita who beat the goalkeeper to the corner of the goal. Kratz and Huisman tested the Yale goalkeeper later in the quarter, giving the Stags three shots on goal in as many attempts. The Stags' second goal came in the 37th minute after Profita converted a pass from Madison Hoskins, pushing the score to 2-0.

Feeling pressure due to its two-goal deficit, Yale came out in the fourth quarter and applied more pressure against the Stags defense. The Bulldogs scored their only goal of the game on their first shot of the quarter as Ellie Barlow posted an unassisted goal three minutes into the period. Yale took three of its five fourth-quarter shots in the final three-plus minutes of the game, two of which Zoe Rosen kicked away from danger and one that was blocked before it caused any difficulties. 

The Stags outshot the Bulldogs by a 16-7 overall count as well as a 10-4 margin for shots on goal. Summer ended the game with eight saves while Rosen was tested three times. 

"I am very proud of our resiliency and determination after a close loss against Monmouth on Friday," Coach Kane said. "Dani Profita led the team on both sides of the ball. Obviously scoring two goals was important  but also coming up with interceptions and tackles on our defensive end was equally a key to helping us come away with a victory."

The Stags have a pair of games coming on the schedule next weekend, beginning with a road game against Quinnipiac University on September 10 and concluding with a home game against Temple University on September 12.