FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It all came down to one game for the NEC field hockey regular-season title. And when the final horn sounded, it was the Fairfield University field hockey team that celebrated.

The Stags scored four unanswered goal to break a 1-1 first-quarter deadlock to capture the top-seed in next week's NEC Championship host with a 5-1 decision over Saint Francis University. The victory halted the Red Flash's 11-game unbeaten streak and ended the visitors' run of seven straight shutouts against conference opponents.

"This is a really cool moment for the team knowing that they kept their heads down and kept grinding to come to the end as regular-season champs," Head Coach Laura Gebhart said. "I am really proud that they stayed true to the process and never looked to far ahead so now really good things have happened."
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The game started as one would expect knowing that these two teams were the last undefeated teams in conference play. But as the first quarter progressed, Fairfield began to emerge offensively. The Stags were able to work the ball around the circle to create several shots only to be turned away by goalkeeper Mia DiGenova.

The Stags finally solved the junior goalkeeper in the 11^th minute when Rylee LaLoup used her stick handling skills to bring the ball past a couple of defenders and into the circle before centering the ball. Courtland Schumacher pushed the pass into the back of the cage to give Fairfield the early lead.

The lead did not last long because the Stags were whistled for a penalty stroke just one minute later which Addie Sholly executed perfectly to the corner, tying the game at 1-1.

Fairfield would regain the lead for good midway through the second quarter after Noor Hellemans found a way to get the ball from the left side of the circle to the right side where Konni Hofmann waited patiently for the pass. She tucked the ball neatly just inside the near post to put the Stags back in front with less 100 seconds remaining in the half.

The home team separated itself in the third quarter with a pair of goals, the first coming off nifty circle work by several Stags. In turn, the ball landed on the stick of Kylie Corcoran after a deflection by a defender and the sophomore ripped a shot past the keeper for a 3-1 advantage.

Later in the quarter, Schumacher returned the favor by setting up the team's fourth goal with Kaelyn Fogelson being the recipient. The freshman turned the pass into her eighth goal of the season. The Stags finished off the scoring just a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter when Pilar Mengotti converted a pass from Catalina Ness to give a four-goal edge to the Stags.

"We have this relentless mentality that goals are going to fall," Coach Gebhart said. "There are always shifts in momentum so we need to stay with our game plan and stick to our principles of play. They stayed focused and kept finding opportunities which they converted."

Fairfield will host the 2025 NEC Field Hockey Championship which begins with the semifinals on Thursday, November 6 at 11 am and 2 pm. The championship game is set for Saturday, November 8 at noon. The pairings and game times will be announced the NEC on Friday night.