FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After a two-hour delay, the Stags just could not find a rhythm as they fell to visiting Marist 7-2 on Senior Day. Before the match, the women's soccer program honored the four-member Class of 2016 with a special ceremony. During the match, it was three freshmen who recorded points. Jenny Jacobs netted her third goal of the season and Sara Plowman notched her second career tally. Holly Habyan dished out an assist, her third-straight game with a helper.
“All losses are tough,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “It is unfortunate for the seniors to lose on their Senior Day, it's been few and far between that we've lost games on Senior Day. Almost very similar to Wednesday night, the ball didn't bounce our way. It did in a big way for them.”
Marist (5-7-1, 4-2-0 MAAC) was aggressive right from the opening whistle, scoring two goals in the first 12 minutes of the contest. Brianna Robinson and Erica Crosier both touched the back of the net to give the visiting side a 2-0 advantage.
The Stags (4-8-2, 1-3-1 MAAC) got right what they needed with less than three minutes left in the half. Habyan sent a cross towards goal where Jacobs was able to tip it past the keeper to cut the Marist lead in half.
Senior Sophia DeVita made a career-high seven saves in the first half.
Marist kept plugging away in the second half, scoring five goals with five different goal scorers. Hope Quinonez, who was attacking the net the majority of the match, got the scoring started in the 53rd minute and Paige Jacob closed out the barrage with a score in the 88th minute.
In between, Plowman played a ball near the top of the penalty area and launched a shot into the lower corner of the net for her second career tally.
In total, Marist out-shot the Stags 22-10 but Fairfield had a slight 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Although the seniors were honored for all their hard work and dedication throughout their four years, the play of the freshmen class should not be forgotten. The Class of 2020 accounted for both scores and the lone assist for the Stags. This season, the freshmen have accounted for five goals and Habyan and Elena Santos are tied for the team lead with three assists.
“We'll learn from this,” Coach O'Brien said. “We only have four seniors so I think the future is very bright. We just have to take these and remember this for the future the next time we play Marist.”
The Stags will now hit the road for four of their final five matches of the regular season starting at Siena on Wednesday at 7pm.
