FAIRFIELD, Conn. – An early deficit may have been just what the Fairfield University field hockey needed this afternoon. After falling behind by a goal just seven minutes into the game, the Stags recovered quickly and turned that deficit into domination, coming away with a 6-1 win over Sacred Heart University at University Field this afternoon.

"We started off a little shaky," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "Once we settled into the game with our first couple of goals, we pretty much followed our game plan and settled in from that point. I was especially proud of how the team responded after Sacred Heart scored that first goal."

The Pioneers rallied early as Fairfield struggled to find its foot hold in this match. The visitors found themselves a goal better at the 6:59 mark when Madelyn Kidd collected her own rebound in front of the goal and sent the ball back toward goal which resulted in a 1-0 lead. Those two attempts would be the only ones in the first quarter for Sacred Heart with Fairfield's back line creating difficulty anytime SHU would move forward.

The Stags rallied with just two seconds remaining in the quarter when Alex Senior found Dominique Van Der Zee in the circle. The freshman found an opening toward the far corner of the goal and converted her shot into the team's first goal.

Fairfield frequency of attack was elevated from that point, taking the lead just four minutes into the second quarter. Madison Milhous made a nifty run down the right flank and sent a ball toward the center of the circle. Lucie Vincent ran down the pass in stride and redirected it past the goalkeeper for a 2-1 advantage.

In the 26^th minute, Vincent doubled Fairfield's lead with a spectacular goal that started with a pass from Van Der Zee down the spine of the pitch. Vincent tracked down the ball, flicked the ball in the air and finished the scoring chance by lofting the ball over the charging goalkeeper to make the score 3-1 with five minutes left in the half.

The second half saw Fairfield continue its dominance of the visiting team, outshooting the Pioneers by a 13-0 count over the final two quarters. Van Der Zee registered Fairfield's fourth goal of the match when she scored off a putback from her own initial shot in the 39^th minute. A few minutes later, the Stags were granted one of their 16 penalty corners in the match and made good on the opportunity. After Frances Mirabile inserted the ball, Carmel Van Dijk set up Agustina Casteluchi who finished the play with a shot that was initially saved but the momentum of the shot carried the ball into the cage.

Fairfield finished off the scoring with a fourth-quarter goal, a play set up by Vincent when she secured the ball in the center of the circle and pushed a pass toward the far post. Senior was waiting for the ball and one-time a shot to the opposite corner to give a five-goal lead to the Stags with 10 minutes remaining.

Fairfield completes its home weekend with another Northeast Conference game, hosting Saint Francis University on Sunday afternoon. Game time is scheduled for 1 pm.