FAIRFIELD, Conn. --- With the minutes winding down on the regular season, the Fairfield University field hockey team found itself down a goal against La Salle University. That deficit was quickly turned into an overtime win for the Stags as the team rallied with a goal from Alex Senior in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and another from Agustina Casteluchi with two minutes left in the first overtime to edge the Explorers by a 2-1 count at University Field. The decision pushed Fairfield into a double-digit win total, sending the program into next weekend's Northeast Conference (NEC) championship with a 10-8 mark.

Both teams showed up defensively this afternoon as not only were shots difficult to find but so was gaining minutes inside the opponent's circle. Each back line stepped up any time the opposition tried to carry the ball into the circle, yielding very few scoring opportunities during the 60 minutes of regulation. In the first half, Fairfield had the better of things as the team continued to advance the ball with crisp passing, a formula which led to last Friday's 5-0 win over Stonehill.

The Stags were responsible for all four shots taken in the first half, posting a pair of attempts in both the first and second quarters. However, La Salle goalkeeper Emily Streib was forced to make just one save on those chances, turning away Emma Radebaugh who released a shot with about three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Page Lowry, Casteluchi, and Konni Hoffman registered the other three shots for the Stags.

The third leaned more toward La Salle as the Explorers seemed to partially solve the Fairfield scheme but still could not break through despite taking four shots through the first seven minutes of the period. It wasn't until the 40th minute that the visiting team finally found a small opening that afforded it the chance to take the lead. Zhao Rodrigo started the opportunity with an initial shot that was deflected away by a defender. The ball found its way to the stick of Tatum Johnson at center circle, enabling the junior to turn and fire a shot into the back of the cage.

The lead seemed as though it would hold as time quickly began to get away from the Stags. Head Coach Jackie Kane pulled goalkeeper Payton Rahn with just under three minutes remaining in regulation and the move paid dividends. Less than a minute later, Fairfield's pressure resulted in a first shot that was kicked away right to the stick of Senior who one-timed a shot past the goalkeeper to tie the match at 1-1.

In the first overtime, La Salle had the first chance to end the game Sofia Pla found herself free on the left sideline and took the ball into the left side circle. As defenders closed, she sent a backhand toward the goal but the attempt went beyond the far post to keep the score deadlocked. Later in the period, Gabby Saxon used an all-out effort to run down a ball before it touched the endline on the right side. She eluded a defender and came into the circle which drew the goalkeeper off her line. Saxon sent the ball past the goalkeeper into the center of the circle where Casteluchi patiently waited to redirect the ball into the goal for the game winner.

Fairfield now joins Rider University, Wagner College, and Saint Francis University at the NEC Championship next weekend which will be played in Staten Island. The semifinals take place on Friday with the final being played on Sunday.