FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University field hockey team huddled around Head Coach Laura Gebhart following the game to celebrate, and it was a whole lot of celebrating.

Gaining a win any day is special. Gaining a win on a day when you play your first game on a new pitch is even more special. Gaining a win that gives your head coach her first win with the program is the most special of all. 

All of those things happened in this afternoon's 5-2 win over Villanova University as Fairfield came home to play on its new pitch which was installed during the summer months. And, Coach Gebhart made her home debut most memorable as her team scored a season-high five goals in its victory.

The Stags scored two goals in the first six minutes of the match as Coach Gebhart witnessed her team take control right from the start, spending most of the first quarter on the Wildcats' side of the pitch. 

Fairfield's defense did not yield a shot in the first quarter and just one shot in the first half Meanwhile, the Stags offense clicked for three goals off its eight shots over the first 30 minutes. After Camille Perlov's shot was blocked in the opening minutes, Pilar Mengotti and Alex Senior posted goals on the team's second and third shots of the game.

The lead grew by a goal early in the second quarter when Perlov once again figured into the offensive set. Konni Hofmann worked some magic with her stick to bring the ball into the circle and find Perlov perched near goal. The sophomore flicked a shot past the goalkeeper to put Fairfield in front by three goals.

The third quarter did not provide many opportunities for either team inside the circle with only three shots taken in the period. Fairfield held a slight 2-1 edge but the one for Villanova provided a goal. Midway through the quarter, Carey Werley set up Gemma Lysaght in a clearing on the right side and the junior finished the shot with a goal in the 38^th minute.

Fairfield regained the three-goal lead in the fourth quarter on an unassisted goal by Alice Pifferi, who worked her way past the defense and sent the ball past the goalkeeper to bring the score to 4-1. Villanova put its second goal of the game on the scoreboard not too much later when Ava Borkowski used a backhand that placed the ball into the lower corner to bring the deficit back to two goals.

Mengotti became the Stags' first multi-goal scorer later in the quarter when she secured a pass from Pifferi and released a shot that came off a penalty corner insertion. Pifferi finished the day with a goal and two assists.

The Fairfield University field hockey team will close out its two-game homestand on Sunday when it hosts Lehigh University at University Field. The game is slated for a 1 pm start. After the game, the Stags will embark on a five-game road trip that will keep the team away from campus through the rest of September.