FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Two games against Big East opponents are the docket for the Fairfield University field hockey team this weekend, one of which marks the second straight match against an in-state opponent. The Stags open play with a Friday afternoon date against Quinnipiac University before ending the weekend by hosting Temple University on Sunday at noon.

Fairfield will try and build on the momentum it gained following its 2-1 win over Yale University last Sunday, which allowed the team to even up its overall record at 2-2. Head Coach Jackie Kane has witnessed the team succeed on the road this season, winning its last two games off campus after falling at nationally-ranked Saint Joseph's University in the season opener. In between Saint Joseph's and Yale, the team went up to Albany and collected a 2-1 come-from-behind win against the Great Danes.

After its win at Yale, the Stags will stay in-state once again to play Quinnipiac, the ninth time that the two teams will meet overall and the first time since Fairfield posted a 2-0 win in the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament Championship Game in West Long Branch, N.J. The Bobcats enter this weekend with an 0-2 mark after dropping road decisions to seventh-ranked Boston College and Columbia University. Emilia Massarelli leads the team with one goal and two overall points, taking a team-high eight shots this season with a team-best five shots on goal. Nina Santore has spent all 120 minutes in the Quinnipiac goal, making 11 saves in her two starts.

Temple University comes to Fairfield on September 12 to close out the weekend, the Stags' second home game of the season. The Owls won their first three games of the 2021 campaign before being upended at home by Bucknell, 2-1. Temple's offense has been in full gear since the season opener, posting eight goals through the first four games including two or more scores in each of the team's three victories.

Julianne Kopec accounts for four of the team's season goal total, leading the team with four goals and eight points in her four appearances. Tess Muller in next in line with a goal and two assists for four points while Kerrie Lorenz has chipped in with a goal and an assist for three points. Goalkeeper Megan Ragusa has enjoyed early season success by registering 13 saves in 17 shots on goal for a .765 save percentage. 

Fairfield picked up a pair of goals from graduate student forward Danielle Profita in the team's victory against Yale, her first four points of the 2021 fall season. Madison Hoskins is the team's top scorer with two goals and an assist for five points while Malen Iglesias completes the team's scoring to date with one goal for two points. Goalkeeper Zoe Rosen continues to rack up saves this year, coming into the weekend with 34 saves in four matches (8.5 per game) which ties her for sixth in Division I for saves per game.

Looking ahead, Fairfield will play its only match of next week at home when it hosts Columbia University on September 17 beginning at 4 pm.