There were many highlights throughout the fall, including volleyball successfully defending their MAAC Championship. Here's a look back at Fall 2013.
Volleyball: The Stags successfully defended their MAAC Championship in 2013, downing Marist 3-0 in the final to earn their second consecutive NCAA berth. Fairfield headed to Nebraska for the NCAA Tournament and there they finished their season with a 19-13 overall record. The Stags went 14-4 in league play to earn a share of their 13th MAAC Regular Season Championship. During the course of the season, the Stags notched their 500th program victory. Individually, Rachel Romansky was named the MAAC Setter of the Year for the third consecutive season, a first in the history of the league. Marilyn Peizer joined Romansky on the All-MAAC First Team while Hayley Moyer earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team.
Cross Country: The Stags had another successful season which was highlighted by their efforts at the Leeber Invitational. The women's team won their first-ever team title while the men won their fourth consecutive. It also marked the first time in program history in which both teams won the event in the same season. Both teams also won a share of the O'Neil Invitational team titles. The women's team also won the University of Saint Joseph's Invitational. The men's team placed fourth at the MAAC Championships. Seniors Howie Rosas and John Lobo placed 21st and 22nd, respectfully to lead the Stags in the men's 8K. The women's team took seventh at the MAAC Championships, with junior Maureen Crimmins finishing 29th overall. The 2013 season was the final for Head Coach John Sagnelli who retired in June.
Field Hockey: The Stags had their winningest season in over a decade, finishing the year at 11-7 overall en route to their second consecutive America East Tournament appearance. Felicitas Heinen was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-Mideast Region First Team. She finished the year tied as the second-leading scorer in the America East with 16 goals and six assists for 38 points and was an unanimous All-America East First Team selection for the second consecutive season. Seniors Hillary Fitts and Shealyn Testa and freshman Julie de Paeuw earned All-America East Second Team honors. de Paeuw was also named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Three Stags were invited to compete in prestigious USA Field Hockey Championships in June. Emily McCauley and Kaitlyn Taddeo were chosen for the 2014 Under 21 Women's National Championship while Ann Burgoyne was selected for the 2014 Women's National Championship.
Men's Soccer: The men's soccer team finished with an 8-5-3 overall record, the 13th time the Stags have posted a winning record under Carl Rees, who just finished his 18th season at the helm. Five Stags received invitations to play in the Premier Division League (PDL), namely forward Reco McLaren, defender Matt Danaher and Ben Whitcomb, and goalkeepers Joe Martin and Matt Turner. McLaren received a berth to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region team. He was also a member of the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) team. Six Stags were designated as MAAC All-Academic student-athletes, namely Turner, Danaher, Jordan Ayris,Sean Fahy, George Newton, and John Sullivan.
Women's Soccer: Fairfield completed the 2013 season with a 12-7-2 record and again advanced to the MAAC Championship Final at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For the third consecutive year, a Stag picked up the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year award as junior back Emma Pichl received the honor. Pichl was also named to the All-MAAC First Team and was joined on the squad by graduate student Nikki Stanton and junior Ashley Small. Sydney Arestivo, Anna Borea, and Molly Moran represented the Stags on the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Fairfield spent its Spring Break in England taking to the pitch for three competitive games against top-flight British teams, going 2-0-1 during their stay, outscoring their opponents, 11-5, along the way. Stanton, an NSCAA All-Region selection, signed a professional contract with the Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League in June.
