Fairfield Stags are the 2015 Field Hockey Champions
MAAC Sports
West Long Branch, NJ – Sophomore defender Erin Buckley was named Most Valuable Player as she helped guide the fourth seeded Fairfield University to another upset victory over second seeded Quinnipiac University, 2-0, to win the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Field Hockey Championship, held at So Sweet a Cat Field on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Fairfield took control of the game early on, and got on the board with less than two minutes into the match, with a goal from MAAC Rookie of the Year and All-MAAC Second Team selection forward Ruth Smalbraak assisted by MAAC Offensive Player of the Year and All-MAAC First Team selection junior forward Ann Burgoyne, giving the Stags the edge, 1-0. Quinnipiac had three corners in the period, but Fairfield’s defense was too strong and the Bobcats couldn’t capitalize. MAAC Player of the Year and All-MAAC First Team selection junior forward Julie de Paeuw scored her sixth goal of the season at 29:51 extending the Stags lead, 2-0. What proved to be the game winning goal of the afternoon, was assisted by senior forward Kaitlyn Taddeo. Fairfield’s junior goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett had 1 save going into the half while Quinnipiac’s senior goalkeeper Megan Conaboy had 2 saves.
In the second period Quinnipiac took the shot advantage (6 to 3), but could not connect to the back of the goal. Stags’ goalkeeper Bennett proved to be too much for the Bobcat offensive adding 4 more saves, ending the afternoon with 5 total. Losing team Quinnipiac’s goalkeeper had 2 saves in the match.
This victory gives Fairfield their 9th win of the season. In addition to MVP Buckley, Caitlin Bennett, Ann Burgoyne, and Julie de Paeuw were name to the All-Championship Team.
Quinnipiac, who advanced to the title game of the MAAC Field Hockey Championship for the eighth time, saw their season come to a close with a 9-11 mark. The Bobcats placed Dayna Barlow, Haley Swartz, and Savanna Reilly on the All-Championship team.
Monmouth’s Cori Allen, and Casey Hanna, as well as Rider’s Melyssa Alonso, and Rachel Ippolite were also named to the MAAC Field Hockey All-Championship Team.
With the victory, Fairfield claims the MAAC’s automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Field Hockey Championship. The Bobcats will learn where they will be headed in the NCAA tournament when the field is unveiled Sunday November 8, during the NCAA DI Field Hockey Selection Show. The show will air on NCAA.com at 10pm ET.
2015 MAAC Field Hockey All-Championship Team
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MVP – Erin Buckley
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Fairfield
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Caitlin Bennett
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Fairfield
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Ann Burgoyne
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Fairfield
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Julie de Pauew
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Fairfield
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Dayna Barlow
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Quinnipiac
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Haley Swartz
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Quinnipiac
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Savanna Reilly
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Quinnipiac
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Cori Allen
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Monmouth
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Casey Hanna
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Monmouth
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Melyssa Alonso
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Rider
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Rachel Ippolite
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Rider
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