FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team opened the home portion of its 2022 home schedule with a 1-0 win over the College of the Holy Cross, posting their first overall win of the season with the decision. The Stags applied pressure throughout the game before breaking through in the second half.

The home team had the better of things for most of the first half, moving the ball freely through the midfield and attacking inside the circle early and often in the match. Holy Cross managed just one shot in the first quarter which was a solid opportunity that required Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn to make a save. While the Stags put the ball into the circle, they had trouble getting shots on target, finishing the first 15 minutes with a pair of shots. Agustina Casteluchi created the best chance when she released a shot close to goal that was headed for the corner before Holy Cross goalkeeper Brooke Ross stretched out to push it away from danger.

The second quarter saw more creativity by the Stags as they managed four shots toward the Crusaders goal but once again Ross was equal to the challenge. Fairfield put two of those shots together off back-to-back penalty corners with the last causing the greatest threat. Emily Kness sent a shot toward the goal from the top of the circle that Ross was able to kick to the side before another Stag could reach the rebound. In the 26th minute, Konni Hoffman nearly put the Stags on the board with a nifty move mid-circle when she connected on a backhand that hit the near post and ricocheted across the goal mouth before being cleared.

Holy Cross found its footing at the start of the second half and began to push forward, applying pressure on the Stags defense with more consistency. The Crusaders put together their best flurry six minutes into the quarter with three attempts that forced Rahn to make another save. Despite Holy Cross' fortune, it was the Stags that broke through in the quarter. Hoffman one-touched a pass to the center of the circle just in front of the goalkeeper which Alex Senior redirected into the bottom corner, providing Fairfield with the margin it would need to earn the victory.

"Alex is very opportunistic and will be a great forward for us," Head Coach Jackie Kane said after the game. "She plays with a lot of heart and put herself in the right place at the right time. And most importantly, she finished the chance."

But before the final buzzer sounded, Holy Cross and Fairfield went back and forth in the fourth quarter with the Stags holding a slight 3-2 edge in shots. The Stags tried to double up their lead in the closing minutes with a pair of shots that nearly accomplished their goal if it wasn't for another save from Ross. By the final buzzer, Fairfield took 14 shots in the 60 minutes with six of those being on target.

"I thought we had a good game," Kane said. "We have a lot of new people on the field but I think we are starting to come together. We are still trying out what everyone can do but that will come as the season progresses. We have become more disciplined as team which is the way we like to play hockey. We have a lot of talented individuals but we are at our best when we play as a team and that's what we did today."

Fairfield returns to the pitch on Sunday for a 2 pm match with UAlbany, the second of its four straight home games on the schedule. The match will be played at University Field on the Fairfield University campus.