FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team will close out the home portion of its 2026 schedule with a pivotal game Friday afternoon. The Stags will host CAA opponent Northeastern University as both teams jockey for a spot in the upcoming conference tournament in November.
Northeastern enters Friday's contest as one of two unbeaten teams in CAA play at 3-0, joining nationally-ranked Monmouth University for that distinction. The Stags are not far behind with only one CAA setback, checking into the Friday with a 3-1 mark. The Huskies have won three of their last four games, including CAA wins over the College of William & Mary as well as Towson University.
Fairfield finishes the regular-season with three straight road games following this Friday's game with Northeastern. Two of those remaining road games include nationally-ranked teams, beginning with #20 Monmouth University and ending with #3 UConn. The Stags bring a four-match winning streak into this weekend with two coming against CAA foes Hofstra and William & Mary.
Alice Pifferi was instrumental in the team's two victories last weekend, placing her hand in four of the team's seven goals scored. In the Stags' 5-0 win over William & Mary, the graduate student scored the first goal and assisted on two others to supplement the win. She followed with an assist on the team's first goal of a 2-0 decision over VCU.
Pifferi, who already holds the school record for career assists with 29, needs one more for her third consecutive season double-digit assist total after recording 10 in 2024 and 2025. She is one of six Stags with 10 or more points on the season (15), trailing only
Kylie Corcoran's 22 points (nine goals, four assists), and
Rylee LaLoup's 17 points (eight goals, one assist).
Fairfield's backline remains resolute in keeping the opposition in check, allowing just 16 goals in 13 games. The Stags back line has not yielded a goal in 245 minutes of play, a streak that encompasses four straight shutouts and the end of the match with the University of Delaware on September 27.
Northeastern is averaging two goals per game with 22 goals in 11 matches, netting two or more goals in four of its last six games. The team has outscored its three CAA opponents by a 9-1 count during that six-game stretch, highlighted by a season-high five goals against Hofstra.
Alex Mega paces the offense with four goals and six assists for 14 points, all representing team highs in those categories. Ameila Albers ranks second among her teammates with three goals and three assists for nine points, one of four Northeastern student-athlete with three goals on the season. Aiko Price anchors the defense with her 1.67 goals against average and .754 save percentage off 46 saves.
