FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team extended its winning streak to five games with today's 2-0 win over Saint Francis University, a game which featured the two remaining unbeaten teams in Northeast Conference play. The Stags improved to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in conference action and also remained unbeaten at home this year with an unblemished 5-0 record.

The game was played like one would expect when two unbeaten conference teams get together. The first quarter was played crisply with neither team being able to set up in the opposing circle for any length of time.

But by the end of the quarter, only three shots were taken and Saint Francis held the slight advantage at 2-1. Both of those attempts came off a penalty corner with the first being blocked by the Stags defense before  goalkeeper Payton Rahn was forced to make a stop just a minute later off the second corner. Those statistics are significant because the two shots and two penalty corners would be the only ones for the Red Flash in the game.

Fairfield began to move the ball more accurately in the second quarter which resulted in more time in the Red Flash circle. The Stags managed five shots in the first six minutes, most of which came on the back end of a penalty corner. Despite the home team's success in the quarter, the game remained scoreless with the end of the first half at hand.

The Stags ended the scoreless tie with under two minutes remaining in the second quarter when Pilar Mengotti found an opening off a penalty corner and sent a shot toward goal. The ball was kicked away by Saint Francis goalkeeper Amber Bryan. The ball ricocheted back to Erin McGinley who was position in the center of the circle. She quickly pushed a shot back toward goal, beating the goalkeeper for the game's first goal.

The second half played out as did the first half with the Stags gaining advantages up front while the defense kept the ball well outside the circle anytime the Red Flash managed to cross the midfield stripe. The lead would double up just a few minutes into the third quarter on another highlight reel goal from Lucie Vincent.

After Friday's goal earned her the ninth slot on ESPN's Top Ten Plays on Saturday morning, the freshman made another bid to be recognized when she finished a brilliant run by Dominique Van Der Zee. Van Der Zee made a brilliant run down the right flank and sent a pass that caught Vincent in stride. She was able to stop the ball and push a shot between her legs that caught the far side of the cage, making the score 2-0 in Fairfield's favor.

"Our passing was spot on today and we were able to find open players with long balls that really opened up the field for us," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "That adds another dimension to our offense in addition to our short game. Since we are possession team, adding that dimension gives us something else in our arsenal as we move forward with the season."

The Stags will embark on a two-game road trip next weekend after finishing off a three-game home stand this afternoon. Fairfield travels to Wagner College on Friday, October 13 for another NEC contest before playing a non-conference match at the University of Maine on Sunday, October 15.