N. ANDOVER, Mass. – Lucie Vincent and Alex Senior each scored a pair of goals to lead the Fairfield University field hockey team to a 5-0 win over Merrimack College this afternoon. The decision was the 250^th career victory for Head Coach Jackie Kane.

With the win, the Stags finished their Northeast Conference (NEC) slate with an unbeaten record of 7-0, giving them the top-seed in next weekend's championship. It marks the second time in the last three years that Fairfield went undefeated in conference play, last accomplishing the task in 2021.

Fairfield found the back of the cage in each of the last three quarters of the game, beginning with a goal less than two minutes into the second period. The team managed four shots in the first quarter but none were on the mark.

That changed in the second quarter as the visitors put their first attempt on target. Vincent was responsible that shot, which pushed the Stags in front when she unleashed a shot that beat the goalkeeper to the left corner in the 17^th minute.  

With a one-goal lead in hand at halftime, Fairfield came out and put pressure in the circle which would pay off in the 38^th minute when Carmel Van Dijk doubled up the advantage with her unassisted goal, collecting a loose ball close to the goal and sending it back past the goalkeeper. The Stags' lead reached three goals just 35 seconds later when Vincent tallied her second goal of the game to make the score 3-0 with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter.

Fairfield continued to move the ball forward and keep Merrimack from mounting any consistency on offense. The Stags added two more goals in the fourth quarter, beginning with a scoring play in the 51^st minute.

This time, Alex Senior was able to make a play that ended with her first goal on the afternoon with 9:25 left in the game. The sophomore ended the scoring with the team's fifth goal when she converted a pass from Van Dijk with under a minute left on the clock.

The Stags defense kept Merrimack in check throughout the game, allowing just one shot in the game. The home team was able to find an opening in the circle during the second quarter but Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn was able to make the save to keep her clean sheet intact.

Fairfield finishes up the regular season Sunday with another road game, heading back to Massachusetts for an afternoon game with the College of the Holy Cross. The game is scheduled for a noon start.

Following that date, the Stags will prepare for the 2023 NEC Championship which begins with semifinal play on Friday, November 3. The semifinal winners will face each other for the conference title on Sunday, November 5. The tournament will be hosted by Wagner College.