FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the ninth straight time, the Fairfield University field hockey team walked off the pitch with a win in hand as the Stags put forth one of its best offensive efforts of the season this afternoon. Fairfield remained unbeaten in NEC play and improved to 11-4 overall with its 7-1 win over Rider University.

It's no coincidence that the heart of today's win is indeed the heart of this team, namely the six seniors and one fifth-year who continue to instill the winning tradition that Fairfield field hockey has come to know. Autumn Bartush, Konni Hofmann, Rylee LaLoup, Pilar Mengotti, Alice Pifferi, and Alex Senior, the six member of the Class of 2026, combined for five of the team's seven goals today while fifth-year goalkeeper Payton Rahn played all 60 minutes to anchor the defensive effort.

"I am so appreciative of their leadership which you saw on how they played today," Head Coach Laura Gebhart said. "But it all shows up in the small moments like practices and film that few people see. They are true leaders by example and vocally for our group. They have been our leaders and have been so willing to embrace the change that comes with a new coaching staff."

As has been the case in most recent games, Fairfield jumped out to an early lead, scoring a pair of goals in the first quarter. During this nine-game win streak, the Stags have scored 15 first-quarter goals and at least one in the first quarter in seven of those nine victories.

Today, Noor Hellemans was the one who started things rolling for the Stags, putting a shot past the goalkeeper just eight minutes into the game. From that point, the seniors took over the game by scoring the next five Fairfield goals, beginning the run with LaLoup's tally in the final minute of the opening period.

With a 2-0 lead in hand, the Stags tacked on one more goal to move the advantage to 3-0 courtesy of Alex Senior who converted a pass from Catalina Ness in the 22^nd minute of the contest. Rider found its only offensive success on the day when Valeria Perales found some open space down the right channel, sending a cross to Emma Bonshak who one-timed the ball into the back of the cage to send the teams into halftime with a 3-1 score.

The second half belongs to Fairfield from the start, netting a pair of goals in both third and fourth quarters. Hofmann, who would secure an assist on two of the team's final three goals, took her turn in the goal column in the 32^nd minute. Senior registered her second goal of the afternoon, being the recipient of Hofmann's assists, to put the Stags in front by four goals.

The fourth quarter opened with Senior picking up her third goal of the game, a single-game high for the forward, to bring Fairfield's lead to 6-1 with eight minutes remaining in the game. The game's final goal was started with Hofmann finding Ness open next to the near post and the junior finished off the play for the team's seventh goal.

Today's game opened a four-game home stand that finishes off the regular-season schedule. The Stags will play a pair of games at University Field next weekend when they host LIU on Friday afternoon and UConn on Sunday afternoon.