The Fairfield University field hockey team started off a two-game home stand, 14-2 on the season, on Friday, Nov. 1 to conclude Northeast Conference play against Long Island University. They then continued the weekend on Sunday, Nov. 3, taking on foes from Drexel University in Philadelphia before gearing up for post-season competition. In keeping with their impeccable season, they faced the pressure with ease and picked a pair of both wins with scores of 6-0 and 3-1 in that order.
Against LIU, nationally-ranked Fairfield earned the NEC regular season title. They were far more aggressive than the visiting team, outdoing them offensively in shots 15(9)-2(2).
Sophomore Luzi Persiehl established a lead eight minutes and 19 seconds into the first period when, for the sixteenth time this season, her shot met the back of the net.
In the second, the Stags increased their lead to three goals thanks to efforts from Page Lowry ‘23, whose one-timer off of a rebound snuck past LIU’s goalkeeper Rachel Vellis, and Faith Spaziano ‘22, assisted by Madison Hoskins ‘23.
With one half behind them, the Stags lead the Sharks 3-0 going into the third period with the advantage. Junior Danielle Profita had a hand in two consecutive goals. The first was when she worked a pass to Emma Matlach ‘21 from the left side of the circle who finished the play and scored at the 36 minute of play. Again, at minute 46, she set rookie McKenna Dolan up for her first goal of the season. First year Katie Keane rounded out the scoring to total 6-0 with 56 minutes and five seconds on the clock.
The Sharks were unresponsive when regulation time went stale and Fairfield earned their fifth shutout of the season.
The six goals amassed that afternoon were a season high, one-upping their 5-0 defeat of Saint Francis University on Sept. 8. Their conference record improved to 6-0, and they took on Drexel University later that weekend with momentum on their side to celebrate senior day for their lone soon-to-be graduate Emily Halderson.
The team’s overall record improved to 16-2 following a Sunday afternoon non-conference matchup. The Dragons gave the Stags a run for their money, applying uncomfortable pressure to the team, ranked No. 24 nationally, when they delivered a relentless six shots on goal. Fairfield first year Zoe Rosen was a formidable force in the cage, as she faced a combined 17 shots that weekend. Sixteen of those were due to Drexel’s offensive blasts, but with just a single goal allowed, she kept the stags afloat posting five saves.
Scoring was slow in the first 15 minutes of play, but picked up at 20:45 when Drexel beat Fairfield to the board. Lowry responded promptly on a deflection from Matlach that found its way to the corner of the goal, knotting the score at one. Lowry struck again with 30 seconds left in the half and created a 2-1 lead for Fairfield that they would continue to build upon.
The third quarter was silent and scoreless, and in the fourth Emma Matlach’s goal sealed the deal for the Stags. They held off Drexel for the remainder of the match and secured the win.
On Friday, Nov. 8, the women are slated to face cross-town rivals Sacred Heart University (5-14, 3-3 NEC), who are seeded fourth in the Northeast Conference Tournament, in Staten Island, NY.
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