FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team will close out the regular season this weekend by hosting Northeast Conference (NEC) foe Stonehill College on Friday before heading south for a Sunday match up against the University of Delaware. The Stags will be playing for a spot in the NEC tournament when they take the pitch on Friday, currently placing third in the standings with a 5-2 record.

The Stags are coming off a weekend in Pennsylvania that saw the team fall to both Saint Francis University in conference play and to Villanova in a non-conference match. The two setbacks ended Fairfield's season-long seven-game winning streak which also represents the longest run of wins in the NEC this season. Despite the results, the Stags' offense was in sync with four goals scored including three against Villanova. Four different student-athletes scored for Fairfield, namely Autumn Bartush, Rylee LaLoup, Agustina Casteluchi, and Camille Perlov Alice Pifferi added to her team and conference-leading assist total as her two passes last weekend raised her total to nine for the season.

LaLoup picked up her sixth goal of the season in the Villanova match, placing her in a tie for the team lead in that category along with Konni Hofmann. Hofmann leads the team in overall scoring with 16 points as she picked up her fourth assist of the season in the same game. Fairfield has six individuals with 10 or more points on the season, including Hofmann, PIlar Mengotti (13 points), Pifferi (13 points), LaLoup (12 points), Catalina Ness (10 points), and Alex Senior (10 points). Fairfield ranks second in the conference for goal scoring, averaging 2.44 per game which trails only Rider's average of 2.88 goals per game.

Defensively, the Stags have been stingy inside the circle, giving up a conference-low 1.12 goals per game which is slightly better than runner up Wagner College's 1.42 goals allowed per game. In addition to the dependable play by Fairfield's back line, the Stags have a pair of goalkeepers who have kept the opposition in check throughout the season.

Emily Streib owns a conference-best 1.32 goals against average through 12 appearances this season, backed up by her .722 save percentage. Payton Rahn has enjoyed a solid season as well, posting a 0.68 goals against average in five games this season. The pair have collectively posted five clean sheets this season with each goalkeeper posting two solo shutouts and one combined shutout.

Stonehill brings a 7-10 overall record and a 4-3 NEC slate into the weekend after defeating Sacred Heart University and Mercyhurst College in a pair of home games last week. The team has won six of its last eight games, including all four home games that it has played this season.

Tyra Stark leads the team in scoring with 13 points, netting six goals and dishing off an assist through her 17 appearances. Emma McGrory is the team's other double-digit scorer with 11 points, registering 11 points through four goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Shannon Conte, last week's NEC defensive player of the week, has spent all but 15 minutes in the Stonehill goal, sporting a 2.05 goals against average with a .720 save percentage off 90 saves in 17 games.

Delaware owns an 8-8 overall record and a 3-2 CAA mark which includes consecutive Ivy League wins against Columbia and Penn  on the road.  The victories ended a four-game skid for the Blue Hens. Delaware plays #19 Drexel University Friday before hosting the Stags on Sunday.

Jane Stoetzer paces the offense with 15 points off five goals and five assists while Kate Fiest (four goals, two assists) and Lulu Fulton (three goals, four assists) are next in line with 10 points. Cecile van Eijck has played every minute in the Delaware goal, registering a 1.27 goals against average with a .777 save percentage (73 saves).