FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield will face their toughest challenge this season when they travel to the site of last year's MAAC Championships to take on conference leading Monmouth on Saturday at 7pm. The Stags are still looking to stay in the playoff hunt, currently two points behind sixth-place Siena with four games to play.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield is coming off a pivotal draw on the road against Siena, tying 1-1 with the Saints on Wednesday. Anna Borea and Holly Habyan executed a perfectly communicated free kick to score the Stags' lone goal in the seventh minute. Borea tapped the ball to Habyan, who then tapped the ball back to Borea. The junior used the nearly 20 mph wind to her advantage and looped the ball over the keeper. It was the third goal of the season for Borea, the first in live action. The assist for Habyan made a little history, as she became the first rookie in program history to record an assist in four-straight games. The Stags allowed just two shots on goal, however one of those found the back of the net early in the second half. Siena's keeper Liz Rogan made a career-high 10 saves, the third time this season an opposing goalkeeper recorded a career-high against the Stags.
THE HOLLY JOLLY TIMES CONTINUE: Freshman Holly Habyan became the first Stags rookie ever to record an assist in four-straight games. Coming into the game against Siena, Nicole Cavallaro was the latest Stag first-year player to notch a helper in three-straight in 2007. Cavallaro holds the rookie single season record for assists with 16, which is also the most by any player in Fairfield history.
FAIRFIELD VS MONMOUTH: If the Stags want to take down Monmouth, they are going to have to do something they haven't done since 1997. Before coming into the MAAC in 2013, the Stags were 1-1 in the all-time series with their lone victory a 4-0 decision at home. Since their inaugural MAAC season, the Hawks are undefeated against the Stags, taking all three meetings, including the 2013 MAAC Championship Finals.
THE MONMOUTH SCOUTING REPORT: Not only does Monmouth have a conference best 6-1 record, but they will also be celebrating their Senior Day, which will give the Hawks even more motivation going into the match as they try for their third-straight MAAC Regular Season Championship. The lone loss the Hawks suffered was a 3-2 overtime setback to Quinnipiac, which snapped a seven match unbeaten streak. Monmouth possess a potent offense that has out-scored opponents 38-15 this season. Erica Murphy, who was an All-MAAC Second Team selection last season, leads the conference with 12 goals. Alexis McTamney, the 2013 MAAC Rookie of the Year and 2014 All-MAAC First team selection, ranks second on the team with eight goals and five assists. Sydney Lavan has started every game this season and holds a 0.99 goals against average and a .754 save percentage.
UP NEXT: The Stags will play in the final regular season home game of the 2015 season when they host Quinnipiac on Wednesday at 7pm.
