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FIELD HOCKEY TIMELINE
24 2012 Stags Field Hockey
Fairfield field hockey was born as a club
sport in 1974, and became a varsity
sport prior to the 1980 season. Six head
coaches have guided the field hockey
team as the Stags have played 330 varsi-
ty contests.
1974 -
Fairfield field hockey becomes a
club sport. The Stags play three contests
and win one.
1976 -
Grace Greene is hired as the first
head coach. She guides the team to a 1-
3-5 mark.
1977 -
Greene guides the team to its first
winning season with a 4-3 record.
1980 -
Field hockey gains varsity status
at the Division III level, and Marilyn Rowe
becomes the second coach. Nancy
Whelan leads the team in scoring with
three goals and two assists as the Stags
finish 2-3-5. Fairfield allows just 12
goals in 10 games.
1981 -
The Stags advance to postseason
play for the first time but drop a 1-0 deci-
sion to Worcester Polytechnical Institute
in the Division III EAIAW Regional
Playoffs. Nancy Whelan nets 10 goals to
lead Fairfield, and goalies Mary
Carrington and Sue Weyant combine for
99 saves while allowing 1.10 goals per
game. The Red and White posts a 5-5-3
record.
1982 -
Fairfield field hockey gains
Division I status, and the Stags have their
most successful season with a 9-5 mark.
Janet Kendall sets a pair of school single-
season records, netting 13 goals and
adding seven assists for 33 points. On
the defensive side, goalie Sue Weyant
registers an .830 save percentage, stop-
ping 72 of 84 shots on goal.
1983 -
The Stags complete back-to-back
winning campaigns, posting a 9-7 record.
Janet Kendall and Lauren Lam lead the
team offensively with 21 goals between
them. Current coach Jackie Leonard
(Kane ‘87) plays her freshman season
for Fairfield.
1984 -
Head coach Marilyn Rowe steps
down following a 6-8-2 season. Her .545
winning percentage (31-25-11 record) in
five seasons is still the best in school his-
tory.
1985 -
Janet Kendall nets four goals in
limited playing time due to a knee injury.
She finishes her career as the Stags’ all-
time points (89), goals (38), and assists
(13) leader. Betty Browne becomes the
program’s third coach.
1986 -
Melissa Falen takes over as head
coach of the Stags, beginning a three-
year run. Jackie Leonard (Kane `87) is
named team captain and tallies three
goals and one assist in her senior sea-
son.
1989 -
Under new head coach Anita
D’Ascenzo, Fairfield plays a full Division I
schedule for the first time in school histo-
ry.
1992 -
Senior Mary Beth Combs
becomes the first player to compete in
the prestigious North-South All-Star
Game, after tallying six goals and three
assists. She also receives the Woman of
the Year award from the NCAA.
1995 -
Jackie Kane ‘87 becomes the pro-
gram’s sixth coach. Jenna Cardone and
Leslie Hubbard are named Academic All-
Americans.
1996 -
Fairfield field hockey joins the
Patriot League.
1997 -
Jodie Kuczarski registers eight
goals and eight assists to lead the team
in scoring and earns All-Patriot League
first team honors. The Stags score 36
goals, more than the previous three sea-
sons combined.
1998 -
The Stags win the Patriot League
regular-season crown and host the play-
offs, marking the second time in school
history that the team advanced to post-
season play. Fairfield records its first win-
ning season since 1983, with a 14-8
overall record. Freshman Iza Kotowski
ties the school single-season record for
points (33) and assists (9). Fairfield sets
school single-season records for goals
(50), assists (38), and points (138).
Kuczarski and Stanley are selected to
play in the NFHCA Mideast Region All-
America team, and both earn All-Patriot
League first team honors.
Beth Fergusson
Janet Kendall
Jodie Kuczarski