WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- A pair of early goals was the difference in today's season opener for the Fairfield University field hockey team as the Stags came up short by a 3-1 score to Monmouth University. Goalkeeper Payton Rahn turned away nine shots in getting the start for the Stags while sophomore Agustina Casteluchi posted the team's lone goal on the afternoon.

The Hawks took the early lead just seven minutes into the game after Annick van Lange finished off the team's first penalty corner of the game. Aylin Aufenacker started the corner from the far side and sent the ball to Bente Steenhorst who set up van Lange's shot inside the circle. van Lange would double the home team's advantage just three minutes into second quarter, finishing off a sequence that consisted of a pair of penalty corners.

On the first corner, van Lange took a shot that Rahn turned away but the Stags were whistled for another violation that presented a second corner to the Hawks. Once again, Aufenacker stood over the ball and sent the corner attempt to Steenhorst who once again found van Lange open. The graduate student connected once again for her second goal which put the Stags behind by a pair of goals.

Fairfield cut the lead in half with a goal later in the second quarter when Casteluchi teamed up with Julianna Kratz to find the back of the cage. Kratz initiated the play when she released a ball that she directed toward the front of the goal where Casteluchi tipped the ball past the goalkeeper to bring the score to 2-1 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half. 

Monmouth started the second half with several opportunities as the team earned three penalty corners in the first four minutes of the quarter. Rahn was equal to the challenge by making a save on two of three shot attempts with the third try being blocked by a Fairfield defender. The momentum switched later in the quarter as Fairfield was awarded three penalty corners in succession but only managed one shot off of those opportunities. Nora Amme was responsible for that shot attempt, putting her attempt on target only to be turned away by goalkeeper Phileine Hazen.

The Hawks regained their two-goal lead in the fourth quarter after picking up four more penalty corners over a four-minute span. Fairfield's defense was able to keep the first three corners in check, the second of which was another save by Rahn, before tallying Monmouth broke through on the fourth corner. Rosa Boender collected her first goal of the season after Katie Yoder and Johanna Karlhuber created the corner chance. 

The Stags managed four shots in the game with Hanna Saxon, Amme, and Casteluchi being responsible for the squad's three shots on goal. Rahn made eight of her nine saves in the second half including five in the second half.

Fairfield finishes off its two-game road trip with a Sunday afternoon match up at Villanova University. The game is scheduled for a 1 pm start.