No. 9 ’Cuse Opens with 2-1 Win at Fairfield

Friday, August 28

Fairfield, Conn.

3 p.m.

Syracuse University

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Fairfield

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Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Syracuse	0	2	0	0	2
Fairfield	1	0	0	0	1

8/28/2026 5:02:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Highlights

Orange Rally Past Stags in Opener

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – No. 9 Syracuse University field hockey opened its 2026 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Fairfield on Friday afternoon at University Field.

Syracuse (1-0) trailed early before goals from Aubrey Turner and Jovie Weaver in the second quarter turned the tide. Turner netted her goal in the 18th minute off a Jess Liddell assist on an penalty corner chance, and Weaver followed four minutes later with an unassisted finish for the eventual game-winner. Jessie Eiselin made one save across the first half in goal before giving way to Tane King, who turned aside two shots in the second half to help close out the win.

Fairfield (0-1) grabbed the first tally of the game as Amanda Dressel scored unassisted in the 10th minute. Paige Jackson made five saves in 56:21 of work before Fairfield went to an empty net over the final 3:39 while trailing.

The win extends several notable streaks for the Orange under fourth-year head coach Lynn Farquhar. Syracuse improved to 4-0 all-time against the Stags since 2000 and the Orange won their 19th consecutive season-opener, excluding a unique 2020-21 season.

How it Happened

Fairfield struck first in the 10th minute, as Dressel found the back of the net unassisted to put the Stags up 1-0.
Syracuse answered in the second quarter. In the 18th minute, Liddell set up Turner, who leveled the score at 1-1. Turner inserted the ball on a penalty corner as Liddell drag flicked a shot towards the cage. Turner got her stick down to redirect the shot and log the first 'Cuse goal of the year.
Four minutes later, Weaver put the Orange in front for good, scoring unassisted in the 24th minute to make it 2-1.
Neither team found the net over the final two quarters. Syracuse held a 9-7 edge in shots for the game, while each side finished with two penalty corners.
Eiselin started in goal and stopped one shot before King took over for the second half, making two saves to preserve the lead.
Fairfield pulled Jackson for an extra attacker over the final 3:39 in search of an equalizer, but the Orange defense held on for the 2-1 final.

Up Next for Syracuse

No. 9 Syracuse continues its season-opening road trip Sunday, Aug. 30, at Northeastern in Dedham, Mass., with a noon start.
The Orange are five games into a stretch that will keep them away from J.S. Coyne Stadium to begin the year, the longest trip of which is this weekend's swing through New England.