FAIRFIELD, Conn.—The Fairfield University field hockey team rallied from two-goal deficit by scoring five straight goals to close out the match, leading to a 5-2 win over Quinnipiac University on Sunday afternoon. The victory represents the third straight and fifth in the last six dates for the Stags, leveling their overall record to 7-7 with today's decision.

The penalty corner played a big factor in this match with Fairfield scoring on four of its last five set piece opportunities. The Stags mounted threats on its first two penalty corners with five shots taken on those chances. But it was the conversions after those initial set pieces that made the difference against the Bobcats.

Quinnipiac scored a goal in both the first and second quarters to take the early lead as the Stags tried to find their footing inside the circle. Despite moving the ball successfully, Fairfield could not get any traction through the first 20 minutes of the match. That trend ended when Gabby Saxon drew a penalty corner which set up Fairfield with another offensive chance. The Stags cashed in when Alex Senior controlled a loose ball a few yards away from goal and pushed the ball past the goalkeeper to cut the deficit to 2-1.

"I think the comeback all started with Gabby Saxon drawing that corner," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "She plays with a lot of heart and hope and I think the team saw that and drew off her. She was the catalyst for us today."

Less than two minutes later, the home team garnered another penalty corner which Frances Mirabile initiated by sending the ball to the top of the circle. Nora Amme directed a shot toward the far post where Mirabile anchored herself for a deflection and the tying goal.

With the score tied at 2-2 coming out of halftime, Fairfield took the lead just a few minutes into the third quarter after Konni Hofmann accepted a penalty corner insertion and one-timed a shot into the lower corner to give her team its first lead of the day.

Later in the quarter, the Stags added a fourth goal to their afternoon when Mirabile started another corner by pushing the ball to Carmel Van Dijk. The sophomore finished the shot with a strike into the bottom corner that gave a two-goal lead to Fairfield.

The Stags completed the scoring in the fourth quarter after Quinnipiac pulled their goalkeeper in order to add another attacker on the pitch. Just seconds after the switch, Madison Hoskins took a pass from Alex Senior in center circle and lifted a shot into the back of the cage to bring the score to 5-2.

"We are executing better on corners over the last couple of weeks and that is translating into goals," Coach Kane said. "We also wanted to take shots that make the goalkeeper work which has resulted in a lot more shot on target and better scoring opportunities."

Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn made a couple of saves in the first half but was kept busy over the final 30 minutes. Quinnipiac picked up its pace especially in the fourth quarter, taking five of its 11 shots over the final 15 minutes of the game. Rahn made three saves in the quarter and seven overall to earn the victory.

The Stags will not play their next three games against Northeast Conference (NEC) opponents with the hope of earning one of the four conference tournament berths in November. Fairfield hosts Wagner College on Friday, October 21 with the Seahawks being the only unbeaten team left in NEC play at 4-0.