For the first time in program history the Fairfield University women's soccer team will take on Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Quinnipiac University, hosting the Bobcats Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Lessing Field. The Stags have won six of seven matches and enter the game at 6-4-0 overall and 2-0-0 in league play, while Quinnipiac is 2-4-2 on the year and 2-0-1 in MAAC action.
All fans wearing club soccer jersey's to the game on Wednesday will be admitted for $1. Fans unable to attend the game can follow livestats for free.
The Stags opened MAAC play with a 4-0 win over Saint Peter's last Wednesday and followed that with a thrilling 2-1 win over Marist at home on Saturday. Ashley Small was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, scoring two goals and assisting on another. Nikki Stanton had a goal and an assist on the week, while Erin Pettersen, Sydney Arestivo and Molly Moran all scored goals as well.
Small is atop the team with seven goals and 15 points, ranking among the league's and nations elite in goals scored this season. Stanton has recorded four assists on the year and is second on the team with eight points. Fairfield has scored 14 times this fall, with 11 assists, and 11 players have at least one point. Over the last seven games Fairfield is outscoring opponents 13-5, after being outscored 5-1 during a season opening three-game losing streak.
Kathleen Early has been strong of late, allowing just one goal in her past four outings, encompassing 315 minutes of action. She enters play Wednesday night with a 0.93 GAA and a .811 save percentage.
Quinnipiac has been outscored 11-8 on the year and are 2-1-2 in its last five games after opening the year at 0-3-0. The Bobcats made their MAAC debut on September 21 with a 3-0 win over Saint Peter's, before tying Siena, 1-1, and defeating Rider 2-0. Jessica Fontaine is leading the team with seven points, including a team-best three assists, and is tied with Aine McKeever as the top goal scorer, both netting two in the first eight games of the year. Natalia Grodzki has played 739 minutes in net for the Bobcats with 33 saves and 10 goals allowed. She has a 1.22 GAA, two shutouts and a .767 save percentage.
