FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In what could be considered one of its finest efforts of the season, the Fairfield University field hockey team gained a well-deserved 2-1 win over the University of Maine at University Field.
The Stags never trailed in this game, scoring a pair of goals off penalty corners and then relying on a solid performance from the defense. After holding the Black Bears to just three shots in the first half, Fairfield's back line with assistance from the midfield was able to keep Maine from rallying despite its nine shots and nine penalty corners earned over the final 30 minutes of play.
Goalkeeper
Emily Streib tied her season-high with eight saves this afternoon, including five stops in the third quarter alone. Over her last three starts, Streib has collected 20 saves and allowed one goal per game which lowered her season goals against average to 1.42.
The two teams remained scoreless for the first 20 minutes of the match before Fairfield garnered its first penalty corner of the game. The opportunity created a shot from both
Agustina Casteluchi and
Rylee LaLoup which forced saves from goalkeeper Rozarie Mrazova but a second penalty corner was whistled during the sequence.
Once again,
Alice Pifferi inserted the ball which landed on the stick of
Pilar Mengotti, who one-timed a shot which tucked neatly into the far corner of the goal for a 1-0 Fairfield lead. The goal would stand for the remainder of the second quarter, sending the Stags to intermission with an advantage.
The two teams played through a scoreless third quarter which kept the home team in front heading into the final 15 minutes. Fairfield was able to add to its slight edge with another penalty corner goal from
Konni Hofmann, once again set up by Pifferi with added assistance from Casteluchi.
The two-goal lead did not last very long however as Maine was granted a penalty corner just a minute later and the visitors took full advantage. Poppy Lambert received the ball off the insert and quickly sent a pass to Olivia Geniti, who finished the play with a shot to the right corner and cut the lead to 2-1 with 12-plus minutes remaining in the game.
The Stags played ball control from that point, using precision passing between the middle and defensive thirds, making Maine chase the ball for most of the fourth quarter. Despite the strategy, the Black Bears were still able to secure four more corner which set up three additional shots. The final chance came with nine seconds remaining in regulation, but the visitors were whistled for an infraction on the play which allowed the Stags to run out the last few seconds on the clock.
The Fairfield University field hockey team returns to Northeast Conference (NEC) play next weekend with a pair of home games which closes out its three-game home stand. The Stags will host Wagner College on Friday, October 4 before welcoming Mercyhurst College on Sunday, October 6.
