FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team came up a goal short in today's Northeast Conference (NEC) match up with Wagner College, falling to in the visiting team by a 2-1 score at University Field. The Stags put forth a strong second-half effort that led to a tying goal in the third quarter before the Seahawks were able to convert a penalty corner with three minutes remaining in regulation to come away with the victory.

Defense was the theme of this conference game as neither side was able to reach double figures in shots taken through the 60-minute contest. Wagner held a slight edge in shots by a 7-5 count but managed to put more attempts on target. Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn made a couple of stunning saves that kept her teammates within reason of the Seahawks who took the lead just five minutes into the game.

A long pass from their defensive side to the circle set up the Seahawks for their first goal as Julia Pasterino was on the receiving end of the pass. As she went toward goal, she was taken down not far from goal which resulted in a penalty stroke. She stepped over the ball and sent a shot toward the lower corner which skipped past Rahn for the only goal of the first half. The penalty stroke was one of two shots taken by Wagner while the Stags did not gain a shot through the first 15 minutes.  Fairfield stepped up the pace in the second quarter which led to more activity within the Wagner defensive third. In this quarter, roles reversed as the Fairfield defense shut down Wagner's offense without a shot while the home team's offense managed two shots with one penalty corner.

Still, Fairfield went into the intermission down a goal but with the knowledge that they found some solutions to the Wagner back line. And, those findings paid off in the third quarter as the Stags were able to create more havoc inside the circle. Fairfield earned a penalty corner in the 42nd minute which set up the team's lone goal on the afternoon. Defender Frances Mirabile started and ended the scoring opportunity when she inserted the ball to the top of the circle which was accepted by Nora Amme. The graduate student sent the ball back toward goal, an attempt that was deflected into the air where Mirabile finished by pushing the ball past the goalkeeper to make the score 1-1.

With the score all equal, both teams tried to make runs to create a scoring chance but both defenses were able to dissolve any opportunities inside the circle. It wasn't until Wagner earned a penalty corner with three minutes remaining that the game took a turn. Emma Lofstedt and Agustina DeHarbe served as the inserter and stopper on the corner, putting the ball onto the stick of Laura van Hamburg. She promptly put the ball back toward goal and caught the far corner of the cage to put Wagner in front by a 2-1 count with three minutes on the clock. Wagner did not yield any shots during those closing minutes which sent the team to their fifth NEC win in as many games.

Fairfield will return to the pitch on Sunday for its final road game of the regular season, heading to LIU for a noon game. After that match, the Stags finish the regular season at home with a conference match against Stonehill on October 28 followed by a non-conference date with La Salle on October 30.