FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It was a flurry at the end of today's field hockey match up with La Salle University but despite taking six shots over the final minute-plus, the Stags were unable to find the tying goal in a 2-1 setback to the unbeaten Explorers at University Field.

Fairfield kept good pace whenever it was able to move the ball into La Salle's side of the pitch while the defense stifled the Explorers attack through the first 15 minutes of the game. The Stags did not allow a single shot in the first quarter while they sent three shots toward the La Salle goal. Two of those attempts were on target and forced action from goalkeeper Abby Boggs.

The second quarter saw more action in both circles with La Salle holding a slight edge in shots by a 3-2 count. The Explorers were the first team to find success offensively when Roos Pasveer was able to redirect a pass from Grace Ferriolo in the 25^th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Just one minute later, Fairfield worked some magic in front of the La Salle goal as Catherine Fitzgerald sent the ball to Konni Hofmann, who relayed a shot past the goalkeeper to make it a 1-1 match at the half.

La Salle took the lead in the third quarter when it was role reversal for the two student-athletes that scored the game's opening goal. This time, La Salle countered off a Fairfield offensive push which freed up Pasveer near the circle. She one-timed a pass to Ferriolo who broke one-on-one with goalkeeper Emily Streib, and pushed a shot into the far corner of the goal.

The Stags did all they could in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, including pulling the goalkeeper to put an extra attacker on the pitch. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Fairfield was able to earn five corners which it translated into six shots, two of which were saved by Boggs. On the final play of the game, Hofmann found open space at the top of the circle and elevated a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced back into play as time expired.

Fairfield will return to action next Friday when it closes out its three-game home stand against Yale University. The Stags will host the Bulldogs at University Field beginning at 4 pm. The team will finish up the weekend with a road game at Lehigh University on Sunday, September 15.