Field hockey runs-up short

The field hockey team entered its inaugural season in the Northeast conference preseason ranked fourth and finished as the runner up of the league.

The Stags closed out their season losing in the NEC championship game 3-2 against top-ranked Rider.

Despite drawing first blood after Caitlin Quinn ’07 scored off a penalty corner from Rebecca Odenwaelder ’06, Rider scored three goals in the second half to ultimately seal the game and the conference championship.

To earn a spot in the championship game, Fairfield posted a sudden death thriller vs. Sacred Heart in the semifinals of the NEC tournament.

Odenwaelder scored the game winner in the third round off penalty strokes.

While the Stags again jumped out to an early lead, the Pioneers started playing aggressively in the final minutes, tying the game with five minutes left to play to send the game to a penalty round.

In the first penalty stroke round Odenwaelder scored on her last shot for the Stags to send both teams to a second session. The round ended 1-1. The second rounded ended at 2-2 heading into the third.

Odenwaelder then ended the game when she scored giving Fairfield a 3-2 victory.

Lauren Callahan ’08 played all of regulation and overtime saving 12. Elizabeth Thomas ’08 came in for the penalty strokes and got the win.

The Stags season ended two days later with the loss to Rider. They ended the regular season 7-13 and 8-14 including the playoffs.

Fairfield opened up the season winning their first game and losing the next seven.

The story of the Stags year was the transition from the Patriot League to the NEC which is a more competitive league.

Overall, the Stags overachieved and earned a 5-3 record in conference, after playing four top 20 teams this year: Northwestern, Hofstra, Boston College, UConn.