STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Fairfield University field hockey team advanced to the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship Game on Saturday by edging second-seeded Rider University by a 2-1 score in the second semi-final game. The third-seeded Stags will play top-seeded and host Wagner College for the title with game time slated for 12 pm.

Most of the action occurred in the first quarter as both teams were able to put goals on the scoreboard. Fairfield broke through first when it scored just four minutes into the match. Konni Hofmann added to her team leading scoring total with a deflection off a ball sent forward by Pilar Mengotti, sending the ball into the corner of the cage.

Rider was able to find an opening just a few minutes later when a clearance pass started a break down the pitch. At the end of the play, Olivia Machiavelli was able to run down the ball on the left side of the circle and send a backhander into the upper portion of the goal, knotting the score at 1-1.

The Stags took the lead with less than three minutes left in the first quarter which proved to be the deciding goal. Sammy Saxon controlled the ball inside the circle and pushed a pass to Catalina Ness, setting up the midfielder for a clear shot past the goalkeeper.

The two teams combined for eight shots through the first quarter with the Stags holding a slight edge of 5-3. From that point, most of the play remained in the middle third of the pitch with both teams managing just three shots the rest of the way. No shots were recorded in the second quarter with the midfielders sharing a bulk of the possession.

In the third quarter, the Stags put forth the initial attack beginning with Erin McGinley's shot that forced the Rider goalkeeper to make a save. Fairfield earned a penalty corner later in the quarter, a chance started by Alice Pifferi that ended on the stick of Pilar Mengotti. The defender put a shot on goal that once again required action from the Rider goalkeeper. Mengotti would add the team's final shot of the quarter and once again put the ball on target but without any result.

Rider found some offensive footing in the fourth quarter, putting a couple of shots toward goal with both being set up off penalty corners. Both attempts and corners came in the 48^th minute on consecutive plays. The first shot was wide of the mark but the second was on goal with Payton Rahn making her second stop of the game.

Fairfield and Wagner will play for the NEC championship with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.