FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Head Field Hockey Coach Laura Gebhart announced the 2026 schedule, a slate that includes six conference games as the program begins its first season in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The Stags will play six games against CAA opponents and 12 matches versus non-conference foes.

In non-conference play, Fairfield will face seven teams that won more than 10 games in 2025, namely Monmouth University (13 wins), Drexel University (13), Syracuse University (13), VCU (13), UConn (12), Yale University (12), and the University of Vermont (11).

And, the Stags will see four teams that advanced to the 2025 NCAA Championship in Drexel, Syracuse, UConn, and Yale. The Stags went to the 2025 national tournament as well after winning the NEC title in Head Coach Laura Gebhart's first season at the helm.

"Our 2026 schedule provides a tremendous opportunity for growth and new challenges," Coach Gebhart said. "The competition within the CAA gives us an opportunity to elevate our game, while a strong non-conference schedule will push our program to compete at the highest level.

Fairfield plays six of its first seven games of the 2026 campaign on its home turf, beginning with Syracuse on August 28. The Stags will welcome the College of the Holy Cross on August 30 before taking playing former conference foe LIU on September 6.

After making a quick trip to Yale University on September 11, Coach Gebhart will line up her squad for three more home games over the next nine days. The home stand begins with a match up against Brown University on September 13 before opening CAA play on September 18 with a home game against Drexel University. The three-game stretch ends with Fairfield hosting Vermont on September 20.

The Stags finish the second half of their regular season with seven road games over its final 10 dates. The run begins with a pair of away contests against Towson University on September 25 and the University of Delaware on September 27. The team returns home for a pair of contests against Hofstra University on October 2 and Lehigh University on October 4.

Fairfield will head to the state of Virginia for a pair of outings with the College of William & Mary on October 9 and VCU on October 11. The team plays its final regular-season home game on October 16 against Northeastern University.

The regular-season comes to a conclusion with three games away from campus as the Stags head to Monmouth on October 23 and Providence College on October 25. The regular season comes to its conclusion on October 30 when Fairfield makes the short trip to UConn for an afternoon match.

The Fairfield University field hockey team finished the 2025 season with a 16-6 overall record and an unblemished 9-0 mark in NEC play. The team's overall win total was the second highest in school history only surpassed by the 2019 squad's 19 victories. The Stags advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second straight season and the fourth time in the last seven campaigns.