FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Defending a conference championship is never easy. And no one understands that better than Fairfield University Field Hockey Head Coach
Jackie Kane, who guided the Stags to their second Northeast Conference (NEC) championship in three years last season. This year, the Stags will try to match that success with the hope of playing for another trip to the NCAA tournament in November.
In the opinions of the NEC head field hockey coaches, that could happen as the group selected Fairfield unanimously as the preseason favorite. That opinion stems from a solid core of returning student-athletes who will lead the Stags through another challenging schedule that begins this weekend.
The Stags open play with a former conference opponent in Monmouth University for the 2022 season opener. The two teams will get together in southern New Jersey on August 26 for a 4 pm game. The two programs combined to win four of the five MAAC championships that were awarded when the conference sponsored the sport from 2013-17.
After the Monmouth match, the Stags will travel farther south for an August 28 date with Villanova University to complete the opening weekend. The Stags and the Wildcats have been a regular on each other's schedule with seven meetings since the 2014 season. Fairfield won the last three match ups with their Big East opponent, outscoring the Wildcats by a 7-2 count in those games. Villanova's last victory came in the form of a 2-1 decision in 2017.
In order to get a fast start to the 2022 campaign, Fairfield will rely on a talented group of seniors and graduate students that are battled tested and have the experience to carry the Stags through the rigors of this year's slate.
Up front, Fairfield has a majority of its scorers back for the 2022 campaign led by senior
Julianna Kratz who is the top returning scorer with seven goals and three assists for 17 points. Classmates
Page Lowry and
Madison Hoskins also posted points a year ago with Hoskins picking up three goals and an assist while Lowry added two goals and an assist.
Katie Keane also provided support in the offensive third over her nine appearances in 2021 and will bolster the team's attack this year as well.
Gabby Saxon returns for her fifth season with the program to patrol the midfield for the Stags, giving the team solid play both offensively and defensively. She was among the team's top play makers last season, setting up six goals which placed her second among her teammates for assists. Senior
Emily Kness looks to anchor the back line for the Stags, earning postseason accolades last year for her play inside the circle.
Fairfield also welcomed a trio of graduate students to the roster this year with the addition of
Laia Vancells,
Nora Amme, and
Frances Mirabile. All three student-athletes have the knowledge and experience that will add to Fairfield's success in 2022. Vancells, who played four years at Wake Forest, will be a contributor inside the opponent's circle while Amme brings her international experience to the midfield position. Mirabile comes from UConn and looks to expand Fairfield's defensive success from the back line.
Following the opening weekend road trip, the Stags will return home for a four-match home stand that begins with Holy Cross on September 2 followed by a meeting with UAlbany on September 4.
