FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the second time in three weeks, Fairfield women's soccer goalkeeper Kathleen Early was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week.  It is the third weekly award for Early in her career.

“Once again Kathleen performed flawlessly for us in goal,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said.  “Facing a barrage of shots she came up big in the second half by making a terrific that would have put us behind 1-0.  She also has made a huge difference in our defensive unit by keeping our backline organized, focused and motivated.  The clearly step up when she's in goal.”

Early continued her breakout season by recording her fourth shutout of the season by blanking Rider 1-0.  Early recorded eight saves in the contest to keep the Stags in the game which they eventually won with under three minutes to play.  Early's best save came late in the second half when she fully extended on a Rider shot to tip the ground ball away from her right side to keep the game scoreless.  Early saw 20 shots in the game that was played in Fairfield's territory for the majority of the time.

Early is still the top-ranked keeper in program history in terms of goals against average allowing just north of 0.70 per contest.  Early also ranks fifth in shutouts (19) fifth in wins (25), and seventh in saves (151). 

Early and the Stags continue conference play when they travel to Quinnipiac University on October 1, with kickoff scheduled for 3 pm.