FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University field hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision to the University of Vermont on Sunday afternoon, the final date of its three-game home stand.
Vermont brought a high-energy attack into the match up which forced Fairfield into a defensive mode that cut into its ability to attack for most of the first half. The Stags back line managed to keep the visitors from few opportunities by keeping them outside the circle. The Catamounts only managed two shots in the opening 15 minutes only one of which required action from goalkeeper
Georgia McDade.
The second quarter proved to be more fruitful for Vermont as the team was able to find the back of the cage twice in a three-minute span. The first goal came in the 20
th minute when Veerle Nijhuis converted a penalty corner that was set up by Lara Cleophas who had three assists on the day. A few minutes later, Jamie Lewis deflected a cross from Cleophas past the goalkeeper to double the advantage at 2-0.
The Stags seemed to make adjustments at the half which brought more success in the offensive circle. Part of that offensive thrust was due to the Stags defense stepping up and gaining more deflections which allowed the offense to create more opportunities close to goal.
"Part of the messaging at the half was to get back to our type of defending which we call front foot defense," Head Coach
Laura Gebhart said. "We were anticipating interceptions and putting good pressure on the ball which help us make the flip. We generate 90 percent of our attack comes off counter attack opportunities so defense it where it starts."
Fairfield earned its two penalty corners in the first few minutes of the third quarter which kept the team up front and enabled it to create the scoring chance which resulted in a goal.
Konni Hofmann intercepted a ball just outside the circle and brought ball right before sending a cross to center circle. There,
Camille Perlov finished with a precision redirect to bring the Stags to within a goal at 2-1.
Later in the third quarter, Vermont was able to regain its two-goal edge when Isi McMahon was accepted a pass from Cleophas and lifted a shot past the charging goalkeeper to bring the score to 3-1 with three minutes left in the quarter.
The fourth quarter yielded no shots for the Fairfield offense while Vermont was able to muster two chances. Goalkeeper
Paige Jackson, who played the second half of the match, turned one of those attempts away with a kick save off just in front of the near post.
Fairfield will play a pair of road games next weekend, the first time it will play back-to-back away from campus. The Stags open the weekend with a Friday afternoon match with CAA opponent Towson University before taking on the University of Delaware on Sunday afternoon.
