HAMDEN, Conn. – It's always great to get production from your strikers but it's even better when that production results in four goals. Cassidy Boegel scored twice in the contest while Ashley Small and Michelle Coate netted one goal apiece to help the Stags cruise past the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 4-1, on a rainy day on the road. Karolyn Collins also tallied a career-high two assists to give Fairfield their first-ever win over in-state rival Quinnipiac.

"The win this afternoon was great to get, both on the road and under difficult field conditions," Head Coach Jim O'Brien said.  "We also played different formations in each half which also was a plus.  I credit Associate Head Coach Sean Driscoll with our second half formation change that sparked the team with two goals that ended the game."

Fairfield's (8-2-1, 2-0 MAAC) front unit was an offensive threat right from the start. Ten minutes into the contest, Small dribbled to the right side of the box and found the lower left side of the net to give Fairfield the lead. It was her team-high fifth goal of the season and the 22nd of her career.

Quinnipiac (1-7-1, 0-2-1 MAAC) answered in the 18th minute when Jessica Fontaine headed in a corner kick which tied the game at 1-1. It was the second goal of the season for Fontaine who now has half of her team's four goals.

The Stags would regain the lead six minutes before the first half whistle, when Boegel took a pass from Erin Pettersen to score her third goal of the season. It was the first collegiate goal that Boegel has scored on the road. The Stags are now 4-0 all-time when the sophomore tallies a goal.  Pettersen notched her first assist of the season and the fourth of her career.

Boegel wasn't finished yet, striking again in the 62nd minute. She scored off a pass from her right by Collins, capping off her first career multi-goal game. 

"Cassidy put away two great finishes to lift the team when it was much needed," Coach O'Brien said.  "It was good to see Cassidy step up and also get back on track with two goals."

Collins also assisted the fourth goal of the game, passing to Coate who took advantage of the cross to tally her first career goal. For Collins, it was her fourth assist of the season and a new career-high. Collins had one assist in 16 games last season.

"Karolyn had a solid first half at her normal position but was the catalyst in our second half surge to put the game away," Coach O'Brien said.

The victory is the first time that the Stags have defeated Quinnipiac in program history, meeting just one time prior (a scoreless draw last season). The two teams last met in the 1980s, before the program went Division I, a match in which the Bobcats won.

The Stags had just 10 shots in the match, with seven on goal, including the four that resulted in goals. The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Week Kathleen Early saw nine shots and had three saves. Fairfield had a 4-3 advantage in corners and was whistled for three offsides, one more than the Bobcats.

The Stags will look to remain unbeaten in conference play when they travel to Marist College for a Saturday night match. Kickoff is set for 7pm.