The Fairfield University women's soccer team overcame a nearly two-hour weather delay to earn a 1-0 win over visiting Siena College in the squad's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener.  The win improves the Stags record to 3-2-3 overall and 1-0-0 in league play, while handing the Saints their first loss of the year, 5-1-2, and dropping them to 0-1-0 in conference action.

Fairfield controlled the first 25 minutes of play, but the game was halted with 19:04 to play before intermission when a thunderstorm passed over Lessing Field.  Just less than two hours later play resumed with an up and down flow, which resulted in the Saints first shot of the game.  Taylor D'Alfonso blasted a ball from 25-yards out that was headed just under the cross bar until Kelly Boudreau was able to knock it over the top.  The ensuing corner kick played straight down the goal line, but no one was able to put a foot on it.

Fairfield resumed control of play as the half continued and took a 1-0 lead with just under five minutes to play before intermission.  Nikki Stanton chipped a ball over the Saints defenders and the wet grass held the ball up long enough for Ashley Small to get to it.  She drove the ball along the ground to the opposite post for only tally of the game.  It is Small's first collegiate goal and the third assist of the year for Stanton.

It was the only goal that Boudreau and the Stags defense would need as they posted their fifth clean sheet of the season.  Boudreau finished the game with six saves, three coming in each half.  Laura Ettinger also stopped six shots for Siena, while allowing the one goal.

Fairfield outshot Siena 16-7 for the game and had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.  Fouls were even at seven apiece.

The win snapped a four game winless streak against Siena for the Stags.  It also improved Fairfield to 16-2-2 all-time in the first MAAC game of the year.

Fairfield returns to action on Sunday, October 2 when it hosts MAAC foe Marist, 4-1 winners over Iona on Friday.  That game is set to begin at 1 p.m. on Lessing Field.