FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team extended its' win streak to five games with this afternoon's 8-0 decision over Merrimack College in a Northeast Conference (NEC) match up. The team improved to 7-5 overall and remains in a multi-team tie for the top spot in the NEC standings at 4-1.

While the five-gamer is impressive, the way that the Stags did it is even more imposing. Fairfield has outscored the opposition by a 24-3 margin over the last five dates and did not allow a goal in its two conference matches this weekend.. Prior to today's decision, the Stags earned a 2-0 victory at LIU on Friday. Goalkeeper Emily Streib earned Friday's clean sheet and combined with Payton Rahn for another shutout today.

The home team took control of this one early by scoring the game's first goal just two minutes into the game. Alice Pifferi stood over the team's second penalty corner of the game and sent a short pass to Pilar Mengotti who ripped a shot that went to the far corner and put the Stags in front.

Catalina Ness provided some offensive might by scoring the team's next two goals, the first coming off a pass from Catherine Fitzgerald that found Ness open at the top of the circle. She connected on a shot that beat the goalkeeper in the 13^th minute to double the advantage. Ness posted the first of three second-quarter goals for the Stags, converting a cross from Madison Milhous just 41 seconds into the period.

Alex Senior and Camille Perlov were responsible for the other two goals in the second quarter. Senior positioned herself in front of the goal and was able to collect a rebound off Mengotti's initial shot and push the ball past the keeper for a 4-0 edge. Sammy Saxon picked up the first of her two assists in the game when she found Perlov camped at the right side of the goal and set her up with a cross from center circle.

In the second half, Fairfield continued to apply pressure in the circle which eventually led to Kylie Corcoran's goal midway through the third quarter as she backhanded a shot into the goal, a play set up another Saxon pass. Merrimack earned its only corner of the game in the third period as well, a chance that resulted in a shot that was kicked away by Rahn with 32 seconds left.

Fairfield added two more goals in the fourth quarter, the first starting with a keen pass from Ness which found Hofmann available in front of the goal. She quickly added the team's seventh goal with an accurate attempt to the lower corner. Milhous closed out the scoring with nifty stick work that led to a shot over the goalkeeper's pad in the final minute.

Fairfield returns to the pitch on Friday, October 18 when its heads cross town for a match up with Sacred Heart University at 7 pm. The Stags' next home game is two days later when they host Hofstra University on Sunday, October 20 at which the team will honor its senior class with a pregame ceremony.