NORTH EASTON, Mass. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team finished off its road weekend with a 5-0 win over Stonehill College, the team's third straight victory which keeps the Stags unbeaten in Northeast Conference (NEC) at 3-0. The result marked the fourth time that Fairfield has scored at least five goals, raising the team's scoring average to 3.0 goals per game (27 goals in nine games).
As has been the case all season along, the team's offensive output was a result of several players chipping in to the cause. Four different student-athletes scored for the Stags, paced by a pair of goals from
Konni Hofmann.
Kaelyn Fogelson and
Rylee LaLoup were also in the mix with a goal and an assist each while Amana Dressel closed out the scoring for the visiting team. The Stags offense was relentless all day, finishing the match with 24 shots and eight penalty corners.
Fairfield took control early with a pair of first quarter goals, the first of which came off the stick of Hofmann. LaLoup started the scoring play by sending the ball into the center circle where Hofmann was able to collect the pass and chop the ball into the back of the cage at the 8:56 mark. Fogelson was next on the docket as she beat the goalkeeper to the far corner of the cage, doubling the team's advantage in the 13th minute to push the score to 2-0.
After managing one shot in the opening quarter, Stonehill became a little more active in the circle. The Stags defense was able to keep the Skychiefs in check however, allowing just two more shots to reach goalkeeper
Payton Rahn. The first of those two attempts required some attention from Rahn, who made a diving stick save on the right side to push the ball over the endline without any more significant threat.
Fairifield regained its scoring prowess in the third quarter, adding three more goals to its game total. The first of those goals was a result of a penalty stroke in the 33rd minute, an opportunity which Hofmann put away to the upper left corner of the goal. With a 3-0 lead in hand, the Stags continue to pursue more goals, scoring twice in the final five minutes of the period. LaLoup put away the first of those chances, accepting a cross from Fogelson in the 41st minute and pushing a shot past the charging goalkeeper. The final goal of the game came less than two minutes later on a play set up by a pass from Alex Jordan from the right sife of the circle. Her cross landed on Dressel's stick and the sophomore finished the play.
Paige Jackson saw her first action of the season in the goal as the sophomore made one save during her 15 minutes of work. Rahn added one more stop to her game total, giving her two saves over 45 minutes.
The Fairfield University field hockey team will continue its foray into NEC play with two more games next weekend. The Stags, who completed a five-game road trip with the Stonehill match, will host Sacred Heart University on Friday, October 3 before welcoming the University of New Haven on Sunday, October 5.
