FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After three games on the pitch, the Fairfield University field hockey team has shown midseason form. The Stags opened the home portion of its schedule with a 5-0 win over Bryant University, its second shutout in three outings this season.

"We are getting a total team performance right now," Head Coach Jackie Kane said. "Our veterans are leading the way and our newcomers are definitely filling in the depth where we need early on."

Today's result is a microcosm of the team's early success with four different Stags scoring a goal, a back line that disrupts any attempt at continuity in the defensive third, and a goalkeeper who has yielded only three goals in three games, all of which came against a nationally-ranked opponent.

This afternoon, Fairfield jumped to an early lead through the stick handling and craftiness of sophomore Alex Senior. The forward, who scored the team's first goal in a 4-0 at Hofstra in the senior opener, carried the ball into the circle from the left side, spun around her defender and tucked a shot inside the near post to put the Stags on the scoreboard just two minutes into the contest.

"Alex had the vision to find the open spot and put the ball past the goalkeeper," Coach Kane said. "I've been really happy with her performance to start the season but I could say that about pretty much everyone in the lineup."

The one goal edge stood for the entire first half and sent the Stags into halftime with the narrowest of margins. But that changed in the third quarter as the Stags began to not only earn penalty corners but also score off those opportunities.

Both goals in the third quarter were a direct result or at least started by a penalty corner, beginning with Pilar Mengotti's goal in the 39^th minute, a shot which was set up by a crisp pass from Carmel Van Dijk. Four minutes later, Fairfield increased its lead with a prototypical penalty corner beginning with Frances Mirabile's insertion, followed by Van Dijk's stop, and Augstina Casteluchi's finish.
The fourth quarter also were set up originally by a penalty corner although both goals would eventually come off deflections from initial shots during the plays.

Freshman Catherine Fitzgerald brought the score to 4-0 when she camped in front of the goalmouth and redirected a loose ball back into the cage in the 49^th minute. With under three minutes remaining in the game, Erin McGinley received the ball off a kick save that she one-timed back toward goal which beat the goalkeeper to the far post.

"Success off penalty corners comes from confidence and a will to be successful in that situation," Kane said. "I think we took advantage when those situations were presented and that comes from practicing penalty corners well when we train."

Rahn was not tested as much as she had been in the previous two games but she did step and answered the call when Bryant was able to find a slight crack in the Stags defensive set.
"She is really switched on right now," Coach Kane said. "She is progressing as a goalkeeper by trying new ways to get better every practice and every game. She continues to add new skills to her repertoire and that is so important."

Fairfield will take to the road for the next three games, beginning with a match with La Salle in Philadelphia on Friday, followed by matches at Yale on September 15, and Lafayette on September 17.