NEWARK, Del. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team closed out the 2024 regular-season by dropping a 2-0 decision at the University of Delaware on Sunday afternoon. The Stags will now prepare for the Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament which begins next Thursday afternoon. 

This game turned into a defensive battle with both teams registering shot in each of the first three quarters of the game. The Blue Hens picked up the first chance in the 10th minute of play when Sarah Rigual sent the ball toward goal before a Fairfield defender deflected it away from danger. Fairfield had the best opportunity of the first quarter when it earned a penalty corner with under two minutes remaining. Pilar Mengotti received the short pass and put a shot on goal that required a save from goalkeeper Cecile Van Eijck to keep the game scoreless.

In the second quarter, Fairfield once again took advantage of a penalty corner, a play started by Alice Pifferi in the 21st minute. Konni Hofmann was on the receiving end of the corner but her shot was blocked before it made it to goal. Delaware took its only shot of the period with three minutes left in the half but Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn was able to the opportunity with her first save of the match.

Just like in the first 30 minutes, each team only had one scoring chance in the third quarter with Fairfield creating the first just one minute into the second half. Catalina Ness found open space to release the shot but it was blocked. Delaware picked up its third penalty corner of the game and was able to create a shot, unlike its first two tries in the opening half. Lulu Fulton was responsible for the Delaware shot but the ball skipped past the goal post without any more action needed.

Fairfield appeared poised to grab the first goal when it was awarded a penalty stroke four minutes into the final quarter but the shot rang wide of the target, keeping the game at 0-0. Delaware was able to break through five minutes into the quarter after Iris Bekker benefited from a penalty corner to score her fourth goal of the season. The Blue Hens padded the lead with two minutes remaining in regulation as Valentina Martorell finished a pass to put the game out of reach.

Rahn played the first 30 minutes in the Fairfield goal before yielding to Emily Streib in the second half. Van Eijck played all 60 minutes in the Delaware cage and recorded two saves to receive the clean sheet. 

The third-seeded Stags will open play at the NEC Tournament on Thursday at 2 pm against second-seeded Rider University. Top-seeded Wagner College, the host of this year's conference tournament, will welcome fourth-seeded LIU in the 11 am with the two semifinals winners facing off for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday beginning at 12 pm.