The Fairfield University field hockey team (4-1) took to Maryland Heights, Montana to face fierce non-conference competition on impartial ground for a two-game weekend run.
First, on Fri., September 13 the Stags challenged the Kent State University Golden Flashes (4-3). The afternoon matchup proved successful for the Stags as their 2-1 victory extended an existing three-game winning streak to four. A valiant effort was made by Kent State’s Clara Rodriguez Seto who delivered two shots in the first period, one which was blocked and the other which hit the post. Their surge in attack was disrupted by the whistle after fifteen minutes of play, and Kent State outshot Fairfield 3-1 going into the second period.
Laila Richter provided the only scoring attempt for Kent State but was shut down by Zoe Rosen ‘21. After that Fairfield asserted their dominance offensively, led by sophomore forward Faith Spaziano. She tallied two shots but neither found their way to the cage. To wrap up the first 30 minutes of play, Kent State’s Berta Llorns Jover earned herself a green card which caused a penalty corner that would open up the third period for the Stags.
Just 3 minutes and 41 seconds into the second half, Fairfield’s rookie starter Julianna Kratz fired a shot which was stopped by Kent State’s Azure Fernsler. 22 seconds after, Luzi Perseihl ’21 got past Fernsler and earned her second goal of the season, beating Kent State to the scoreboard. Kratz tried again but her shot went wide and the score remained stagnant with Kent State within a one-goal deficit going into the final fifteen minutes of play.
The start of the fourth period picked up fast when Fairfield claimed their second and final goal of the game with 44:42 on the clock. The effort was made by Paige Lowry ’23 who excelled off an assist by Kratz. Kent State managed to put themselves within one goal of the Stags as a last-ditch effort, but with 20 seconds remaining they ultimately fell to Fairfield, 2-1.
Fairfield moved on two days later on September 15 determined to continue their four-game hot streak. They played on neutral territory, this time against the Indiana University of Bloomington Hoosiers (4-2).
Zoe Rosen started again in the cage for the Stags, where she remained for the full 60 minutes of regulation time. Her two saves brought her to her second shutout of the season. Only one shot was executed in the first, and the second quarter is where action picked up. In four shots, the Stags made it past Indiana goalie Sachi Ananias twice and secured a two-goal lead in the first half.
In the third quarter, Indiana started the scoring but Fairfield was an unstoppable force, answering back and outshooting them 6-1.
At the start of the fourth period, Spaziano, who had a remarkable game just two days earlier, scored on a helper by Lowry. Lowry lead the team in shots, recording 3 shots atop the assist that put Fairfield ahead 3-0. They maintained the upper hand and finished out the fourth untouchable. The extra tic in the win column established a now five-game win streak.
They return home to face Columbia University on Fri., September 20, where they stand undefeated 2-0.
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