FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey will play for the NEC Championship on Saturday, hosting third-seeded Wagner College at University Field. The two teams will meet at 12 pm.
The Stags earned their spot in the title tilt with their 2-0 win over Rider University while Wagner advanced based on its 1-0 victory over second-seeded Saint Francis University. Fairfield and Wagner will meet for the second straight year in the NEC championship game with the third-seeded Stags taking a 2-1 win over the top-seeded Seahawks in 2024.
Fairfield advanced to this year's final behind a stringent defense that produced the team's fifth shutout of the season. Offensively, junior
Catherine Fitzgerald posted both goals in the Rider win, her first two goals of the season.
Wagner edged Saint Francis based on Floortje Leunisse's team-leading ninth goal in the third quarter. The Seahawks defense registered its fifth shutout behind the goalkeeping of Saar van Dalen.
Fairfield and Wagner opened their NEC schedules against one another this season back in September with the Stags coming away with a 3-2 overtime win in Staten Island.
Alex Senior scored a pair of goals for the Stags that day including the deciding score in the 69
th minute of play.
The winner of Saturday's championship match will advance to the 2025 NCAA Championship which begins next week.
