FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Execution on set pieces is something that comes with practice and focus. By the looks of things, it seems like Head Coach Jackie Kane continues to put an emphasis on penalty corners which was quite evident this afternoon.

The Fairfield University field hockey team scored four goals off penalty corners against Rider University, leading the Stags to a 4-1 win over the Broncs. Frances Mirabile inserted on all four of those corners and was credited with three assists on the afternoon.

"Our execution was excellent today," Coach Kane said. "From the insertion to the final touch, we were able to put practically every shot on goal that came from a corner. It's something that we constantly work on during our training."

Not only did the Stags create opportunities off corners, but they also shut down Rider which leads the Northeast Conference in penalty corners. The Broncs were able to generate just two corners, well below their average of seven per game.

"They weren't getting the ball into their offensive third so that cut down on the corner opportunities," Coach Kane said. "Madison Milhous did an excellent job in stopping the ball before it reached the circle for most of the game."

Rider managed just four shots in the game with two of those attempts coming in the opening minutes of the contest. The second of those shots resulted in the Broncs lone goal, converting a misplayed pass into a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the game.

After that offensive flurry by the visitors, the Stags defense locked down and did not allow another shot until the third quarter. The Broncs added one more in the fourth quarter, forcing Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn to make two saves in the victory.

The Stags tied the game in the first quarter when Mirabile started the play, sending the ball to the top of the circle where Noor Hellemans was able to stop the ball for Lucie Vincent. The freshman ripped a shot that beat the Rider goalkeeper to the right corner to put the score at 1-1 at the end of the first quarter.

 Hellemans and Vincent played a role in the team's second goal, setting up an opportunity for Catalina Ness. The freshman picked up her second goal of the season on her first shot of the game, pushing Fairfield in front by a 2-1 count in the 19^th minute.

The score moved to 3-1 in the third quarter when defender Pilar Mengotti was the recipient of some crisp passing around the circle off another penalty corner. Mengotti beat the Rider goalkeeper with an elevated shot that caught just inside the left post.

The scoring came to an end in the fourth quarter when Hellemans and Mirabile set up Vincent for her second goal of the match, giving the freshman five points on the afternoon.

Fairfield will return to conference play this Sunday when it hosts LIU at University Field beginning at 1 pm. Before the match, the Stags will honor their senior class with a brief ceremony around 12:45 pm.