WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairfield University field hockey finished up the CAA portion of its schedule with a 3-2 overtime win over #20 Monmouth University this afternoon. The Stags improved to 10-5 overall and 5-1 in CAA play.
The victory represents Fairfield's first over a nationally-ranked team since defeating a pair of poll teams during the 2019 season. The Stags edged #13 Boston College in the regular season before they beat #23 American University in the NCAA tournament later that year.
The Stags rallied from a one-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to tie in the closing minutes of regulation before collecting the game winner in overtime. The win extends Fairfield's winning streak to six which includes four CAA wins.
Fairfield's offense came out aggressively which resulted in the Stags registering the first three shots of the game, two of which required action from goalkeeper Charlie Bowman. But it was Monmouth that opened the scoring with a first-quarter goal when Milla Frye posted an unassisted goal with just over four minutes remaining in the period.
The visitors continued to keep play inside the Monmouth circle, taking five of the six shots in the second quarter. Bowman was able to keep the Stags in check until the 19
th minute when
Camille Perlov finally solved the Monmouth defense with a goal off an assist from
Kaelyn Fogelson.
The third quarter was evenly played with Monmouth holding its first advantage in shots by a 3-2 count with each goalkeeper making a pair of saves off those attempts. But it was the fourth quarter that would provide most of the excitement as both teams found the back of the cage on opposite sides of the period.
Monmouth struck early with a goal just 100 seconds into the final quarter, reaping the benefit of a penalty corner. Alicia Vanderlyde finished the set piece which was created off passes from Luisa Schlueter and Lauren Relik, giving the lead to Hawks for the second time.
The goal culminated an attack which put five shots toward the Fairfield goal in the first few minutes, three gaining the attention of Fairfield goalkeeper
Paige Jackson.
With time winding down in regulation, Fairfield picked up its own penalty corner with just over two minutes remaining. The Stags completed the corner when
Alyse Wanchisen sent the ball toward the goal where
Rylee LaLoup pushed the ball over the goal line to knot the score at 2-2.
The Hawks had one more chance to end the game in regulation with a shot by Eabha Curran, but Jackson was able to put a pad on the ball to keep it away from danger.
In overtime, the Stags defense clamped down and kept Monmouth's attack away from the circle, yielding a shot on goal two minutes into extra time but no more for the remainder of the game. The save was the 10
th for Jackson, setting a personal best in that category.
Fairfield finished the game with its third goal courtesy of another penalty corner. This time,
Alice Pifferi was able to redirect a ball sent forward by Wanchisen, her second assist of the game.
The Stags will continue their weekend road trip on Sunday when they travel to Providence College for an afternoon match with the Friars.
