FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- With a conference title within its grasp, the Fairfield University men's soccer team hosts Manhattan College and Saint Peter's College during the final weekend of the regular-season. The Stags currently sit atop of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 6-0-1 conference mark, the only team with an unbeaten record in MAAC play.
With a win in either game, Head Coach
Carl Rees will celebrate another regular-season title, which would give the team the top-seed in next week's MAAC tournament in Orlando, Fla. The Stags will look for their first regular-season title since winning it back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.
On Friday night, Manhattan (3-12-1 overall) will come to Lessing Field with a four-game unbeaten streak, posting three wins and a tie in its last four games. The Jaspers started the season with 12 straight losses before putting together its recent run, all coming against MAAC opponents.
Trevor Chiduku leads the team in scoring with five points, netting two goals and an assist this year. Both of his goals were game winners, leading the Jaspers past Canisius and Marist. His assist set up the tying goal in a draw with Siena. Goalkeeper George Ellis has also been solid during the team's four-game run, averaging 8.3 saves per game and yielding just two goals in 380 minutes of work.
Two days later, Saint Peter's (4-8-2 overall) won two of its last three games, including a 2-0 win over Canisius and a 2-1 victory against Siena. The Peacocks used a pair of goals from Noah Sadaoui to defeat Canisius, while Andrew Kelly and an own goal helped the team defeat Siena. Sadaoui leads the team in scoring with seven goals for 14 points, followed by Harry Newman and Betim Bajrami who both have two goals and an assist.
Saint Peter's has used three different goalkeepers this year with Diego Cardoza picking up most of the minutes in his nine starts. He owns a 1.48 goals against average and a .747 save percentage during his time in goal. Carlos Suarez and Johan Romero have both appeared in three games this season.
Fairfield has allowed just one goal in its last three games behind the efforts of goalkeeper
Michael O'Keeffe. The junior, who earned the MAAC defensive player of the week for his performance against Iona, posted a 1.35 goals against average with a .721 save percentage.
Jordan Ayris remains the team's top scorer with 17 points, registering seven goals and three assists in 12 games. He ranks second in points per game at 1.42 and third in total points with 17.
Jack Burridge is next in line for the Stags, sporting 10 points in 12 games with three goals and four assists.
Jon Clements, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime against nationally-ranked Iona, has three goals and two assists to his credit.