FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The one thing you can always count on when the calendar hits mid-October is that every game has implications for the postseason. And, Wednesday's game between the Fairfield University and Quinnipiac University men's soccer team is not any different. Both teams are currently sitting in the top four of the current Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings with Quinnipiac holding second place with 13 points while the Stags are fourth with 11 points. But, Manhattan is sitting just behind both teams with 10 points, so a positive result is very important to both Fairfield and Quinnipiac on Wednesday.

Fairfield, ranked eighth in the NSCAA regional poll, comes off one of its best offensive showings with its 3-0 win over Rider University last weekend. The Stags scored all three of their goals in the opening 17 minutes of play, starting with a goal from Hrvoje Glavan just three minutes into the game. Reco McLaren and Jon Clements also picked up goals in the game as the Stags tied their best offensive output of the season. The team also recorded three goals in a 3-1 win over UMass Lowell in late September.

After being shutout in the Siena game, McLaren picked up a goal against Rider which gave him a point in five of the last six games. During that run, the senior has four goals and two assists, accounting for more than half of his 17 points this season. Clements is next in line in the stat sheet as his goal against the Broncs padded his season total to 12 points with all those markers coming off his six goals. With McLaren and Clements banging around the box, it's no wonder that the Stags remain the only team in the MAAC to score a goal in every game. Fairfield has tallied two or more goals in seven of its 13 games, allowing the team to lead the conference in scoring with 22 goals in 13 outings.

The defense has also been steadfast over the last three games, allowing just two goals plus one shutout during the stretch. Goalkeeper Joe Martin posted his third shutout of the campaign with the Rider result, his first since registering back-to-back clean sheets against Yale and UMass on September 13 and 19, respectively. Martin owns a 1.36 goals against average with a .719 save percentage.

Quinnipiac currently sits in second place with a 4-1-1 MAAC mark and owns a 6-4-4 overall record. The Bobcats saw its six-game unbeaten streak come to an end with a 1-0 loss to conference leading Monmouth University. Simon Hinde has been the key to the Quinnipiac offense with a team-high 15 points. Four of his team-leading seven goals were game winner, and two of the seven scores were penalty kicks. Michael Baker ranks second among his teammates with eight points, registering three goals and two assists.

Goalkeeper Borja Angoitia has played most of the minutes for the Bobcats, allowing just 10 goals in 11 appearances for a 0.85 goals against average. He anchors the best defense in the conference, one that has allowed just 12 goals in 14 games this season.