PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – It all came down to 153 seconds. For three-plus quarters, the Fairfield University field hockey team battled Monmouth University to a scoreless draw. But then, that 153 seconds determined the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship.
The Stags scored two goals in 75 seconds which the Hawks followed with their only goal just over a minute later, resulting in a 2-1 win for Fairfield. It was the ultimate way for Head Coach
Laura Gebhart and her squad to celebrate their first year in the CAA.
"I think it's going to take some time to process that we just won the championship," Head Coach
Laura Gebhart said. "We played some really phenomenal opponents in this tournament and throughout the season which makes this so special."
With the score tied, Fairfield was the first team that was able to solve the defense.
Kylie Corcoran intercepted an attempted clear and sent the ball back into the circle where
Camille Perlov was able to deflect the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Seventy five seconds later, Perlov was on the receiving end of a threaded pass from
Courtland Schumacher. The junior secured the ball and sent it past the goalkeeper to double the Fairfield advantage at 2-0.
"As the game progressed, we were getting more into our flow," Coach Gebhart said. "That gave us more scoring opportunities that we could capitalize on."
The Hawks saw their season slipping away and made every effort to grab it back. Within a minute, Monmouth secured a penalty corner which set up Florence van Doorn. She ripped a shot that ticked off the post and hit the back of the cage to cut the lead to 2-1 with just under eight minutes remaining.
The Hawks had multiple chances to tie the contest down the stretch, including a multiple-player advantage with the goalkeeper pulled and the Stags serving out a yellow card, but Fairfield thwarted every opportunity to see out the 2-1 final and the CAA Championship.
Corcoran was the named the CAA Championship MVP. She was joined on the All-Championship Team by Perlov,
Rylee LaLoup, and
Alice Pifferi.
Fairfield will receive the CAA automatic bid to the NCAA Championship which begins next week. The Stags will learn their opponent and the location of the game on Sunday night at 10 PM when the bracket is revealed on NCAA.com.
