FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield will seek a little bit of revenge on Saturday as they head to Lawrenceville, N.J., to take on the Rider Broncs, the same team that defeated the Stags in last year's MAAC Championship Finals by one penalty kick. The Stags and the defending conference champions Broncs will kick off on Saturday at 1pm.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Stags suffered another case of hard luck, allowing the game-tying goal to Quinnipiac with under seven minutes to play and were held to a 1-1 draw. Brenna Brown had the opening tally for the Stags midway through the first half as she headed in a free kick from Karolyn Collins for her team-leading fifth goal of the season. Jenna Pike held that lead, picking up seven saves in the first half (just one shy of her career-high). Jess Fontaine tied the score as she tapped a ball that suck past a row of Stags' defenders and Fairfield could not find any rhythm in overtime. With the draw, the Stags remain unbeaten against the Bobcats in their three career meetings.
GETTING REVENGE: In their first game against an opponent who eliminated Fairfield the previous season, the Stags own a 7-4 record all-time. The Broncs eliminated the Stags in 2001 and 2002, but Fairfield was able to defeat Rider in the regular season in each of the following years. Coincidentally, the years where the Stags have lost to the teams who eliminated them have had pretty good fortune. Fairfield lost to Canisius in 1995 but won the MAAC title, lost to Loyola in 2008 but also won the conference championship, lost to Marist in 2012 but won the Regular Season crown, and lost to Monmouth last season but advanced to the MAAC Finals.
FAIRFIELD VS RIDER: The Stags are 16-4-1 all-time against Rider, with their lone draw coming in last year's MAAC Finals. The Broncs have only won one in heir last 11 meetings against the Stags, coming on the road in 2013. Karolyn Collins had the game-tying goal in last year's title game while Faith Daley assisted on Fairfield's game-winner in a 1-0 affair at Lessing Field.
THE BRONCS SCOUTING REPORT: The Broncs are still playing for seeding in the upcoming MAAC Tournament, and hold a 8-5-1 record and an impressive 5-2-1 conference slate. Kourtney Cunningham is looking like the odds on favorite for the Rookie of the Year award, leading the team with 13 points on four goals and five assists. The freshman leads the conference with a pair of Rookie of the Week awards. Hollie Kelsh, who gave Rider the lead in last year's title game leads the squad with eight assists, which also leads the MAAC. Last year's tournament MVP Bethany May-Howard has allowed just 12 goals all season and holds a 0.84 goals against average and a .886 save percentage, second in the league.
UP NEXT: The Stags conclude their 2015 campaign when they travel to Saint Peter's on Wednesday at 2pm.
