FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team has not played many games at University Field. But when the Stags have been on their home turf, they have been successful. Head Coach Jackie Kane witnessed her team win its third home game in as many attempts with today's 3-1 decision over Columbia University.

Fairfield has outscored the opposition by a 10-2 margin during the 2023 home slate, highlighted by its 5-0 decision over Bryant University in the opener. Going along with that fact, the Stags have enjoyed a 42-25 edge in shots taken on their own campus.

Today, Fairfield used two early goals and complimented that fast start with solid defense that resulted in the team's second win over an Ivy League opponent this year. The Stags opened the scoring just four minutes into the game when Catalina Ness took control of an errant clear attempt by the Lions defense and quickly returned to the top of the circle where Lucie Vincent waited. The freshman secured the ball, stick handled her way past a couple of defenders, and hit a back hand that caught the upper right corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, the Stags doubled up on their advantage with a successful penalty corner. After the insertion, Agustina Casteluchi and Pilar Mengotti worked the ball around the top of the circle, allowing Erin McGinley to find space at the far post. The ball was sliced toward that area where McGinley redirected the ball into the corner of the net, pushing the score to 2-0.

With a lead in hand, Fairfield's back line and goalkeeper Payton Rahn thwarted all the scoring opportunities that Columbia managed to create. Rahn, who made four saves in the team's win over Stonehill on Friday, surpassed that with five first-half stops this afternoon off six Columbia shots. Most of her five saves more than routine, using well-timed kick saves and one diving stop to keep the Lions off the scoreboard.

"Payton made several game-winning type saves early in the game which kept Columbia from working its way back into the game," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "Goalies only get credit for their saves on the stats but her presence in the cage in stopping crosses and following them out makes her even more valuable beyond her save total."

With the two goal lead still intact after three quarters, Fairfield put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter when Dominque Van Der Zee intercepted a pass outside the circle, brought the ball inside, and unleashed a shot that caught the far corner of the goal to improve the advantage to 3-0 with 10 minutes remaining.

Columbia averted the shutout late after an initial shot was saved by Rahn but the ball ended up on the stick of Madison Kim, who finished the chance with a one-timer to the back of the net for the team's lone goal.

Fairfield won its third straight game with today's result, tying an earlier three-game win streak earlier in the season. The Stags will try to build upon their current run with a pair of Northeast Conference (NEC) home games next weekend, beginning with Sacred Heart University on Friday, October 6 followed by another home date with St. Francis University on Sunday, October 8.