NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the second time in as many games, the Fairfield University field hockey team overcame an early deficit to post a 3-2 win over their opponent. Today, the Stags rallied against Sacred Heart University which also included the benefit of being a conference victory as the two teams faced each other in their Northeast Conference opener.

After playing to a scoreless draw through the first 15 minutes, the Pioneers found their way to the scoreboard first when Claire Skumurski redirected a pass from Ally Frampton just over the stick hand of goalkeeper Payton Rahn, pushing the host team in front.

Fairfield, which ended the game with nearly three times the amount of shots taken by their opponent this afternoon, picked up the pressure inside the circle and began earning penalty corners in earnest. The Stags earned five corners in the first half with three of those coming in the second quarter. And, Fairfield made the most of those chance.

Julianna Kratz was the first Stag to connect off the set piece when she secured a pass from Carmel Van Dijk in the 24^th minute to tie the score at 1-1. For Kratz, the scoring play was her team-leading fourth goal of the season and pushed to double digits with 10 points on the season. Just three minutes later, Nora Amme gladly accepted a scoring opportunity in the 27^th minute, a play set up Frances Mirabile's insertion and Gabby Saxon's acceptance of the ball. Amme lifted a shot off a deflection that landed in the upper half of the goal.

With a halftime lead in hand, the Stags continued to make runs at the Sacred Heart goal but Pioneers goalkeeper Samantha Maresca was equal to the task. She faced nine shots in the third quarter and pushed aside the five attempts that were on target to keep her team within a goal heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

The Pioneers were able to tie the game the 54^th minute courtesy of Isabelle Chamberlain's goal just inside the near post, a chance that was set up with a precision pass from Hannah Fawle. The tie was short lived though as Fairfield rallied with what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 55^th minute. Sacred Heart was whistled for an infraction that set up a penalty stroke. Amme stepped to the spot and calmly pushed the ball into the lower corner of the goal to give the necessary margin to her teammates.

Rahn performed admirably once again in the Fairfield goal, making two saves in the critical fourth quarter and registering four stops overall in the match. The Stags nearly tripled the Pioneers shot total in the game as Fairfield held a 23-8 advantage in shots during the 60-minute match.

"We really wanted to improve our shot total this week and we were able to accomplish that today," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "The Sacred Heart is always a really, really tough game and today proved to be no different. It was a great way to start the conference season."

The Stags will continue their play against conference opponents next Friday when they travel to Rider University for another NEC road game. The game is slated for 7 pm.