NEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#1 Fairfield 2, #2 Rider 1 (OT)

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Staten Island, NY - The first Northeast Conference Field Hockey Championship Game since 2012 ended in classic fashion.

Madison Hoskins batted the game-winner into the cage 2:41 into overtime, sending Fairfield to its first-ever NEC crown.

 

.@FairfieldStags are goin' to THE DANCE

Madison Hoskins delivers the Game-winner in OT #ChampionshipSunday #NECPrimePlay pic.twitter.com/04DSGvxOvL

— NEC Field Hockey (@necfhockey) November 10, 2019

It was the top-seeded Stags’ second 2-1 overtime win over No. 2 seed Rider this season. The two sides battled for more than 66:00 on October 18 before Emma Matlach provided the golden goal.

"It's never been easy for us. We gut it out every single time," said Fairfield head coach Jackie Kane, whose team has won a program-record 18 games this season.

Hoskins, who also scored the Stags' first goal in Friday's semifinal win over Sacred Heart, earned the Tournament MVP award for her efforts in Farifield's two postseason victories.

In Sunday’s title tilt, Hoskins heroics came after the teams traded pretty goals off second-half penalty corners.

Fairfield struck first, opening the scoring in the waning minutes of the third quarter. Danielle Profita was the trigger on the penalty corner, putting it in play for Kelly Buckley who found Julianna Kratz for the goal.

Rider goalkeeper Lena Vandam had turned aside the Stags’ prior three shots on the cage.

Looking for the equalizer, the Broncs fired two shots over the first 11:00 of the fourth quarter. Zoe Rosen made a save on Sierra Giuliano’s attempt 1:16 into the final period. Rider’s Carly Brosius got one off with 4:58 remaining, but the Stags’ defense blocked it.

With 3:08 left in regulation, the Broncs finally cashed in. Kaitlyn Flemming swatted a pass from Julia Divorra into the cage.


ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Madison Hoskins (FFD) - MVP
Bridget Kelly (SHU)
Hailey Power (SHU)
Alexis Ruiz (LIU)
Rechel Vellis (LIU)
Lena Vandam (RID)
Tess van Ommeren (RID)
Brittany Romanczuk (RID)
Julianna Kratz (FFD)
Mackenzie Boyle (FFD)
Malen Iglesias (FFD)