FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- For the first time in October, the Fairfield University men's soccer team will play a home game, and the two games could not be more important to the Stags. Head Coach Carl Rees and his squad will welcome Rider University on Friday night at 7 pm before hosting Loyola University on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm, two key games as the Stags battle for one of the four Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament spots. Both home games will be played at Lessing Field.

Fairfield played its last four games on the road, sporting a 1-2-1 record which includes a 0-0 draw with nationally-ranked Brown University. Those results give the team a 5-6-1 overall record and a 1-2 MAAC slate with six more games remaining on the docket.

Junior Reco McLaren took over the team's scoring lead with a pair of goals in a 3-0 win over Manhattan College in the team's last outing. The forward enters the weekend with four goals for eight points, one more than sophomore Jordan Ayris. He has posted three goals and an assist in his 12 appearances this season. Goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe remains ranked nationally in save percentage (.819 - 27th in Division I) and saves per game (4.97 - 32nd in Division I). He also sports a 1.04 goals against average with five shutouts.

The Broncs come into Friday's game with a 3-9-1 overall record with two of those victories coming against MAAC opponents. The team posted a 2-0 win against Marist in its last outing as Dan Friga and Matti Grahle both scored their first goal of the season in the victory. Rider's other MAAC win was a double-overtime decision over Canisius on the road. Dave Benavidez is the team's top scorer with eight points, registering three goals and two assists in 10 games. Matt Perrella and Jason Giordano split the goalkeeper duties with Perrella owning a 1.02 goals against average in 617 minutes while Giordano has a 2.88 average in 593 minutes.

Loyola has won its last three games, all against MAAC opponents, to improve to 8-5-1 overall and 3-1 in MAAC play. Larry Ndjock leads the team in scoring with 17 points, netting seven goals and three assists. Connor Thompson is next on the list with 12 points, registering four goals and four assists. Thurman Van Riper has played every minute in the Loyola goal, owning a 0.96 goals against average with a .803 save percentage. He has 57 saves in 14 starts, averaging four saves per game.