FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- With four games to go in the regular season, the Fairfield University men's soccer team will play two important games on its home pitch, beginning with a match up against Rider University on Saturday night. The Stags have enjoyed success at Lessing Field this year, owning a 2-1-3 record on its own turf. And, the team is unbeaten at home during Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a 1-0-2 mark.

That is good news for Head Coach Carl Rees and his lads because the MAAC tournament will be played right here on the Fairfield campus in mid-November. First, the Stags must qualify for the tournament by finishing in the top four of the regular-season MAAC standings. If the season ended today, Fairfield would be in the tournament. However, there are four teams tied for fifth with seven points in the standings, one of which is this Saturday's opponent - Rider University.

The Broncs are coming off a 2-0 loss at Niagara University in their last outing, one game after handing Manhattan College its first MAAC loss of the season. Sonimi Halliday scored the game-winning goal in that victory against the Jaspers, his fourth goal of the season. Halliday ranks second among his teammates with eight points, all coming off his four goals. Christian Flath leads the team in scoring with 17 points, netting team highs in both goals scored (5) and assists (7). He places third overall in the MAAC statistics, just three points off the MAAC lead. Goalkeeper David Pastuna has played most of the minutes in the Broncs goal, owning 1.19 goals against average with 45 saves and 14 goals allowed. He has three shutouts to his credit this year.

Fairfield comes off a 1-1 tie against Siena College as Joan Brachmann tallied his first career goal late in the second half to pick up the draw. It was a critical point in the standings, as the Stags stayed in the top four with the result. The tie was Fairfield's third of the season, the most since posting five ties during the 2010 campaign.

Reco McLaren remains the team's top scorer despite not picking up a point against Siena, registering 15 points with six goals and three assists. The forward saw his streak of four straight games with a least a point come to an end in the Siena game, posting three goals and two assists for eight points during the run. Jon Clements is also in double figures for the scoring column, recording five goals this year.

Following Saturday's game, Fairfield will head a few miles up the highway for an intrastate match up with Quinnipiac University on Wednesday, October 31. Game time is slated for 4 pm.