FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After playing four matches on their home pitch, the Fairfield University will take its farthest trip from campus this weekend. The Stags will make their way to Miami University (Ohio) for a Saturday match followed by a trip the University of Louisville on Sunday.

Both opponents are nationally ranked in the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Poll. Miami moved into the top 25 this week after a 1-1 week against Big Ten opponents. The Redhawks dropped a road 1-0 decision to seventh-ranked University of Michigan but defeated 23^rd-ranked Ohio State University at home.

Louisville moved up a spot in the Division I rankings, going from the fifth to the fourth spot following victories over James Madison University and Michigan. The Cardinals join Northwestern University, University of North Carolina, and the University of Maryland as the only unbeaten teams in the national poll with all four programs coming into this week with a 6-0 record.

Miami continues to thrive defensively this season, giving up more than one goal in a game just once through six dates. The Redhawks have surrendered just six goals in six games with two shutouts to their credit.

Goalkeeper Isabelle Perese anchors the team's defensive efforts with her 0.97 goals against average, a number that places 13^th nationally. Offensively, the Redhawks rely on Claudia Negrete Garcia (four goals) and Paula Pena Martinez (three goals) inside the circle. The duo has combined for seven of the team's goals to date and accounted for all three game-winning goals.

Louisville has proven to be even tougher in its defensive third, yielding just five goals in six games and not allowing more than one goal in any contest this season. The Cardinals have played three ranked teams this season, defeating Penn State, Princeton, and Michigan all by the same 2-1 score.

Goalkeeper Sasha Elliott has played all 360 minutes between the posts for Louisville, sporting one shutout which came against James Madison. She owns a 0.83 goals against average (sixth in the nation) with a .868 save percentage. Katie Schneider (four goals), Julie Kouijzer (three goals), and Aimee Plumb (two goals) are the three student-athletes with multiple goals this season with Kouijzer leading the team with four assists.

Fairfield splits its recent four-game home stand including a 2-1 come-from-behind win against Lafayette College in its last outing. The effort marked the Stags' first multi-goal game this season, having scored one goal in each of its first five matches. Fairfield's two games this weekend mark the first road dates for the field hockey team in nearly three weeks, playing at Villanova on August 28.

Laia Vancells posted her first goal as a Stag while Agustina Casteluchi added the deciding goal in the 35^th minute against Lafayette. Casteluchi joins Julianna Kratz as the team's top goal scorers with two each. Kratz's five total points is also a co-leading total with Nora Amme getting to her point total with a team-best five assists. She set up all three goals last week including the team's lone goal a 3-1 setback to Drexel University.

Goalkeeper Payton Rahn remains a stabilizing force for the Stags as the sophomore owns a 1.94 goals against average with a .745 save percentage. Rahn has 35 saves to her credit which breaks down to 5.83 per game, ranking her 23^rd in the nation.

After this two-game road trip, the Stags field hockey team will return to University Field for a match with Yale University on Sunday, September 25. Game time is scheduled for 1 pm.