JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The main question Head Coach Jim O'Brien was looking to answer in the final game of the 2015 season was, what team does he have in the future? He got that answer, and it was the one he wanted. Freshman Jenny Jacobs became the first Stag since Ahna Johnson in the 2008 MAAC Title Game to record a hat trick and fellow classmate Elena Santos tallied her first two career goals and added an assist, as the Stags closed out their 2015 season with a resounding 6-0 win over Saint Peter's.
“It was great to see the team bounce back after such a difficult year,” Coach O'Brien said. “Our student-athletes came out fighting under very difficult field and weather conditions. We were hoping for a quick goal to get things started and Jenny did just that.”
She did that and more.
Jacobs started her night scoring her first goal just 2:17 into the contest when she accepted a pass from Brenna Brown to put the Stags up 1-0. It would become her first career game-winning goal. She was not done.
Jacobs would score in the 28th and 31st minute to complete her career afternoon. The latter of the goals was assisted by Santos, who finishes her rookie season tied for the team lead with four assists. Jacobs became the first Stag since Kelli Hurley in 1996 to record a hat trick in a single half. Coincidentally, Hurley also accomplished that feat against the Peacocks.
The Stags (5-10-4, 2-5-3 MAAC) added two more goals in the first stanza coming from the foot of Santos, the first two scores in her rookie campaign.
“Both Jenny and Elena had arguably their best game as they both scored quality goals which was good to see,” O'Brien said. “They both worked very hard to get into good scoring positions and finished very well.”
Not to be overlooked was another member of the Class of 2020. Sara Plowman recorded the first two assists of her career, and finished her first season as a Stag with six points.
Jenna Pike recorded her first shutout of the season, finishing with a pair of saves. Over her last six outings, Pike has notched a 0.98 goals against average.
Fairfield out-shot the Peacocks 22-4 in the contest.
As the season comes to an end, the Stags had their best performance in their final contest. With the freshman accounting for 13 points this afternoon next season should be a bounce back effort.
“The future looks very bright with this young team,” O'Brien said. “We have all learned a great deal about our student-athletes and the staff looks forward to 2016. I also cannot say enough about how our seniors also stepped up today. They have kept the team working hard at practice yesterday and had the team ready to put on a good final performance today. We wish all four of our seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
