FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The No. 23 American University field hockey team's thrilling season was brought to a close on Wednesday during a chilly NCAA Tournament Opening Round with a road loss to No. 25 Fairfield, 3-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the opening minutes with only Fairfield managing to get a good look at goal late in the first quarter. Freshman goalkeeper Fiona Minter picked up the early save to keep the game knotted at 0-0 heading into the break, and followed that up with another clutch save to open the second.
• The Eagles earned their first couple looks on goal with less than seven minutes remaining in the half, picking up back-to-back penalty corner opportunities, but were unable to capitalize despite a laser shot from the stick of the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, junior Noor Coenen.
• AU had a late man-up opportunity after Fairfield's Mackenzie Boyle was sidelined with a green card, but couldn't break through the Stags' defensive line and ended the half at 0-0.
• Fairfield struck early in the second half with a goal from Emma Matlach in the first minute. The Eagles immediately laid on the pressure in response, though, with another penalty corner and shot from Coenen that landed just wide of the cage.
• By the end of the third, the Eagles earned four penalty corner opportunities and five shots but couldn't manage to get on the board and entered the final 10 minutes at a 1-0 deficit.
• American kept up the tempo in the fourth, though, and drew even with the Stags in the sixth minute after sophomore Josie Formica redirected a feed from Coenen off a penalty corner insertion.
• Fairfield responded quickly, though, with a goal in transition from Danielle Profita less than two minutes later, and a third in the final three minutes off the game's final penalty corner.

For the latest on American University Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_FieldHockey) and Instagram (@aufieldhockey).