HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The 2023 season started as well as anyone could have hoped for the Fairfield University field hockey team as the Stags secured a 4-0 win over Hofstra University in the season opener. The offensive outburst represented the most goals scored in a season opener by a Stags team since they posted a 6-2 victory over Colgate University in 2015.

Today, Head Coach Jackie Kane witnessed an inspired effort by her squad with the offense clicking up front and the defense shutting down the same Hofstra offense that put eight goals on the scoreboard in its season opener against Merrimack last week. Fairfield went right to work from the start of the game with solid attacks that didn't take long to break down the opposition. In just the sixth minute of the match, Konni Hofmann found an opening inside the circle and sent a shot past the goalkeeper to give the early lead to Fairfield. Just a couple minutes later, Erin McGinley pursued the ball and worked her way into open space, beating the goalkeeper straight on to push the score to 2-0 at the 7:55 mark of the opening quarter.

With a lead in hand, the Stags' back line and goalkeeper took control of the match, keeping the Pride offense in check. After allowing the home team to hold a slight edge in shots by a 5-4 count through the first 15 minutes, the defensive unit kept Hofstra in check for the next 15 minutes by allowing just one attempt through the second quarter. Fairfield also struggled inside the circle during the second quarter, finishing up the period with one more shot than the opposition and sending the two teams into the intermission with six shots each. 

The third quarter provided a couple of scoring chances for both teams with Hofstra getting the better of the opportunities. The Pride were able to put both of their shots on target but goalkeeper Payton Rahn managed to kick away the two attempts. She would need to make only more save which came in the fourth quarter, giving the junior four saves in her season debut. 

The fourth quarter belonged to Fairfield as the team put any thoughts of come back away with a pair of goals in the first four minutes of the final quarter. A heads up play from Lucie Vincent provided the opening for the Stags' third goal when the forward stole a pass and quickly sent the ball to Alex Senior who was waiting inside the circle. Senior's stick handling enabled her to elude the goalkeeper and push the ball into the open goal at the 46:36 mark of the game. A penalty corner set up the final goal with Frances Mirabile inserting the ball to the stick of Carmel Van Dijk. She set up the shot for Vincent who closed the play with a shot to the right side of the goal.

Fairfield will remain on the road for its second game of the 2023 campaign, traveling to Albany for a neutral site game against nationally-ranked University of Iowa on Friday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 2 pm start. The Stags open the home portion of their schedule with a match against Bryant University on Monday, September 4 beginning at 11 am.