FAIRFIELD, Conn. (October 6, 2023) – Madelyn Kidd (Hillsborough, N.J.) opened the scoring early, but it would be the only goal the Sacred Heart University field hockey team could find on the road on Friday afternoon. Host Fairfield scored the next six at University Field, to post a 6-1 win in the Northeast Conference contest.
 
It was SHU (2-8, 0-2 NEC) which struck first on Friday, in the seventh minute. A pass ahead from the midfield by Isabelle Chamberlain (North Yorkshire, United Kingdom) sent Aine Keaney (New City, N.Y.) on a long run down the right side, into the circle and towards goal. Keaney's initial attempt was stymied, but Kidd was on the scene in the goalmouth to put away the rebound for her third goal of the season.
 
Fairfield (8-2, 2-0 NEC) equalized on a penalty corner just two seconds before the first quarter expired. Amid a scramble out front in the aftermath of the corner play, Dominique Van Der Zee was able to collect a loose ball and slot home her second of the campaign.
 
Samantha Maresca (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) was able to make a kick save against Agustina Casteluchi on a 20^th-minute penalty stroke, but the Stags would pick up two more goals in the second quarter to take a 3-1 lead into halftime. Lucie Vincent had a redirect goal out front for her fourth of the year in the 19^th minute, and then Van Der Zee set up Vincent's second of the game in the 26^th minute.
 
Fairfield got two more in the third, as Van Der Zee picked up her second and Casteluchi added one of her own. Alex Senior picked up her team-leading fifth of the year in the 51^st minute to create the 6-1 final.
 
Maresca (2-8) finished with nine saves and suffered the loss in the SHU goal, while Jaden Ray (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) contributed a defensive save. Payton Rahn (7-2) stopped one of the two shots she faced at the other end of the field for Fairfield.
 
The Pios return home on Sunday, for an NEC contest against Wagner at 4 p.m. at Johnson Field in New Haven.