LORETTO, Pa. – The Fairfield University field hockey dropped a 2-1 decision to Saint Francis University on Friday afternoon, ending the Stags' seven-game winning streak. The Red Flash scored a pair of second-half goals to erase Fairfield's 1-0 lead to earn the conference victory.
Both teams had limited opportunities in the match as the offenses could only manage 14 combined shots in the game. Fairfield picked up the first two shots on the afternoon with both attempts being on target. The first try came off the stick of
Konni Hofmann who put her shot on goal following the game's first penalty corner.
Alex Senior also released a shot that required a save from goalkeeper Mia DiGenova.
Saint Francis found its footing in the second quarter, taking the first three shots of the period but goalkeeper
Emily Streib was able to kick away the two that were on goal while the third never reached her. The Stags tacked on two shots later in the quarter with one of those tries finding the back of the net.
Autumn Bartush, who subbed in just three minutes earlier, converted a pass from
Alice Pifferi to put Fairfield in the lead.
The game remained at that score until the final three minutes of the third quarter when the Red Flash earned a penalty corner. On the first corner, Streib registered a save but the Stags were whistled for another infraction to set up a second penalty opportunity. This time, Consu DeCastro finished the chance with an unassisted goal, sending the two teams into the fourth quarter tied at 1-1.
Fairfield had the first real opportunity in the final quarter when it collected a pair of penalty corners consecutively with six minutes remaining. The first corner did not produce any offense but the second provided a shot on goal from
Agustina Casteluchi that was turned aside by the goalkeeper.
One minute later, Saint Francis picked up the game winner with four-plus minutes remaining as Sofia Marciano pushed a shot past the defense and into the goal for a 2-1 lead. Fairfield pressed forward to try and create the tying goal but did not find any progress until Casteluchi's shot with seconds remaining. The attempt was stopped by DiGenova which preserved her team's one-goal edge.
Fairfield will close out the weekend with another game on the road, playing at Villanova on Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled for noon. The Stags final Northeast Conference match of the season comes next Friday, November 1 against Stonehill College which also represents the team's final regular-season home game of the season.
