STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The Wagner field hockey team (1-5, 0-1 NEC) dropped its Northeast Conference opener to the Fairfield Stags (3-4, 1-0 NEC) by a score of 3-2 at the Wagner College Field Hockey Complex on Friday afternoon. 

In a rematch of last year's NEC Championship title match, the Seahawks wasted little time getting on the board as junior Victoria Bruno scored five minutes into the contest off an assist from fellow junior Natalie McGivern. For Bruno, this goal marked her first as a member of the Seahawks. 

Fairfield put up 11 shots and six penalty corners during the second and third periods in an effort to gain a 2-1 lead.

Wagner struck again for the second time when freshman Julia de Leeuw found senior captain Hailey Bianchino close to the cage to score the equalizer late in the fourth, and make it a 2-2 game.

Fairfield scored its third goal about eight-and-a-half minutes into the first overtime period to prevail, 3-2, over Wagner. 

The Seahawks finished with eight shots, five of which were on target, and earned six penalty corners; comparatively, the Stags finished with 21 shots, 11 of which were on target, and nine penalty corners. 

Sophomore Saar van Dalen recorded seven saves in the cage for the Seahawks, de Leeuw is credited with one defensive save along with her assist. 

Next up, the Seahawks take on conference newcomer New Haven on Sunday, September 21 at 6:00 pm in West Haven, CT.