MERION STATION, Pa. – Senior Shannon McNeill and junior Nicole Gerdes scored their first goals of the season, but Shealyn Testa converted the game-winning shootout attempt as Fairfield defeated the Saint Joseph's field hockey team, 3-2, in a shootout on Sunday at Ellen Ryan Field.

Saint Joseph's (0-4) struck first as McNeill took a 2-on-1 feed from Marin Vreeburg before slotting it past Stags' keeper Caitlin Bennett for the early advantage just over five minutes into the game.

Fairfield (3-1) equalized with 4:38 to play in the frame as Emily Leo notched her first of the season on a rebound in front of the Hawk cage.

The Hawks carried the run of play throughout the first half and continued the momentum into the second as Gerdes scored on a penalty corner blast with 27:52 to go.  Vreeburg added her second assist of the day, while Sara Kolobielski earned her first helper of the season.

The Stags answered just 66 seconds later as Julie de Paeuw deflected a long pass from Hillary Fitts past SJU's Rachel Barnett for her third goal of the season.

Both teams traded late opportunities, with Bennett making a pair of saves with 11 minutes to go to keep the match even.

In overtime, the Hawks killed a two-minute penalty midway through the first extra session and freshman Katja Hansen added a critical defensive save to keep the affair tied.

In the second overtime, the Hawks earned a penalty corner with 7:23 to play but could not convert, eventually sending the game to a shootout.

Nadia de Vries, Jordan Martin, and Eva Gekas converted their shootout opportunities for the Hawks, but the final four Stags found the back of the cage to give Fairfield the victory.

Bennett finished with eight saves in the game, while Barnett had six for Saint Joseph's.

The Hawks are back in action on Friday when they host city rival Penn.  Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.