FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- In the midst of its longest home stand of the season, the Fairfield University field hockey team will finish a four-game run at University Field this weekend by welcoming Drexel University and Lafayette College this weekend. The Stags will play the Dragons on Friday beginning at 4 pm and will engage the Leopards on Sunday beginning at 1 pm.

Fairfield split the first two games on this home stand, defeating Holy Cross before falling to UAlbany in double overtime. Two student-athletes were recognized for their performances during that two-game run, namely Alex Senior and Payton Rahn. Senior was named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Rookie of the Week after netting the deciding goal against Holy Cross. Rahn earned the NEC Defensive Player of the Week for her two-game performance which included her first shutout of the season in the Holy Cross match. She continues to be nationally-ranked with her six-plus saves per game this season.

On the season, senior Julianna Kratz sits on top of the Fairfield statistical leader board with five total points, registering a pair of goals and an assist through four games. She is the team's only multiple goal scorer at this point in the season as Agustina Casteluchi and Senior account for the team's other two goals. The Stags have scored one goal in each of their first four games. Newcomer Nora Amme represents the team's top play maker, offering a squad-best two assists through her four appearances.

Drexel opened the season with a pair of nationally-ranked teams, falling to fourth-ranked University of Maryland and 16th-ranked St. Joseph's University. The Dragons responded after those two matches with a 2-1 win over Appalachian State University, needing a shootout to complete the victory. Drexel fell behind against Appalachian State only to rally and tie the match on Avery Powell's goal with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.

For Powell, it was her second goal of the campaign which represents a team high in that category. Amber Brouwer and Eline di Leva are responsible for the team's other two goals this season. Megan Hadfield has spent all of the minutes in the Drexel net, sporting a 3.90 goals against average and a .645 save percentage (24 saves total).

Lafayette opened the 2022 campaign by splitting a pair of home games, dropping a 1-0 decision to Temple University before upending Bryant University by a 3-1.  margin. The Leopards headed south last weekend only to drop matches against Wake Forest University and Virginia Commonwealth University. The team hosts Quinnipiac University on Friday before making the trip to Connecticut for Sunday's match up.

Five different student-athletes have collected a goal this season with Molly McAndrew pacing the attack with two goals for four points. Lineke Spaans, Mackenzie Hall, Felicitas Hannes, and India Ralph have one goal each to their individual credit. Spaans has the team's only assist on the season, setting up one of the team's goals against Bryant. The Leopards have used two goalkeepers for the most part this season with Raffi Fragomeni getting the majority of the minutes (135 minutes played). She used that time to accumulate five saves in three appearances with a 2.67 goals against average. Emma Garvey has also spent ample time defending the Lafayette goal area. She also has five saves with a 2.92 goals against average.