Box Score

The Fairfield University women's soccer team captured its final home game of the year with a 4-0 victory over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Rider University on Lessing Field on Sunday.  The victory improves the Stags to 5-6-5 on the year and 3-2-2 in league play, while the Broncs fall to 9-5-4 on the season and 2-3-2 in MAAC action.

Carly Beyar gave the Stags all the offense they would need 3:34 into the half as she drilled a ball from outside the box on the near side into the far upper corner for a 1-0 lead.  The speed of rookie Ashley Small led to the Stags second goal, when she was taken down dribbling up the end line and Nikki Stanton drove home the ensuing penalty kick in the 26^th minute for a 2-0 lead.

Small tallied a goal of her own 18 minutes later when classmate Torey Camproni fed a pass into the center of the box and Small put it in over the keepers head for a 3-0 lead.  Elise Hemmer notched her first career goal in the 73^rd minute of play, from a Spenser Allaway pass.

Kelly Boudreau posted the 34^th shutout of her career for the Stags, stopping five shots on the afternoon.  The effort moved her to second on the Stags career saves list, with 379, and nine shy of Anne Lyons (1997-2000) school record of 388.  Boudreau also moved into third place on the career wins list, notching her 35^th career victory.

Danielle Singson took the loss in net for Rider, allowing three goals, with two saves, in minding the net in the first-half.  Jenn Nichols played the second half for the Broncs, allowing a goal and making three saves.

The victory, coupled with a Canisius tie at Marist, puts the Stags in a tie with the Griffs for fourth place with 11 points. Marist clinched the regular season title on Sunday, with Niagara and Iona tied for second with 13 points each.  Loyola has 10 points, and is in fifth, one point ahead of Siena who has only one game remaining, while Rider is seventh with eight points.

Fairfield will play at Canisius on Friday night and at Niagara on Sunday to wrap up regular season play.  Iona will play at Niagara on Friday and Canisius on Sunday, while Loyola hosts Saint Peter's and Manhattan, as the squads battle for the final three MAAC Championship spots.  Rider and Siena are both mathematically alive entering the final weekend of play, with the Broncs also hosting Saint Peter's and Manhattan and Siena hosting Marist.