Box Score ORONO, Maine – This season is expected to be a breakout year for co-captain Karolyn Collins. Well, she is off to a fast start. The Preseason All-MAAC selection recorded her first career multi-goal game, tallying both scores in Fairfield's 2-1 win over Wagner. With the victory, the Stags pick up their first win of 2015, and their sixth against the Seahawks in the seven match series.
“Today's win was very satisfying mainly due to the dominant way in which we played,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “We created numerous opportunities and I felt we should have scored more than two goals. I was also happy to see the team come out with a strong first half despite allowing an early goal.”
With her two goals on Sunday, Collins doubled her goal total from 2014, when she tallied a pair of scores at the end of last season. All four of her career markers have come in the last five matches, including the last three goals for Fairfield (1-1), dating back to last season.
“Karolyn has stepped up her game and came through for us today with two great goals from long range,” Coach O'Brien said. “Towards the end of last season we have asked Karolyn to push higher up the field to utilize her speed and it has paid dividends with loads of production in both goals and assists as well.”
Collins' first goal came in the 42nd minute when she took a pass from Pam Coufos and struck a long strike from 20 yards out to even the score at 1-1. It was the seventh career assist for Coufos.
Wagner (0-2) got on the scoreboard first in the 11th minute when Jackie Otake took a rebounded shot and snuck it into the net for her first career goal. Despite surrendering the early goal, Fairfield was in control early, taking four of the first five shots in the contest, and would total 14 in the first 45 minutes. Cassidy Boegel opened up the contest with an attempt 23 seconds into the match. The junior would notch three shots in the opening half; two of which forced saves from Katelyn Murphy. Sydney Arestivo recorded the other shot on goal in the 12th minute.
“The team responded with an even stronger attitude and got on the board with a goal late in the half,” O'Brien said. “The most encouraging part is that we are improving game by game right now.”
Collins would convert the first shot attempt by the Stags in the second half when she took a cross from Kelsey Burke and smashed a shot from the middle of the box about 10 yards out. It was the first career point for Burke.
The Stags would take 10 of the final 11 shots of the contest, with the lone Wagner attempt coming with nine minutes remaining in the contest. Maria D'Amico forced Jenna Pike to record her second save of the final stanza, which sealed the win for the Stags. Fairfield had several chances to add an insurance goal, but shots from Jenny Jacobs, Jackie Goudreault, and Molly Moran were all stopped by Murphy.
In total, Fairfield out-shot Wagner 25-10 and forced Murphy to make eight saves. Pike had five saves, giving the sophomore 11 through the first weekend of the season. The Stags recorded four corner kicks and did not concede one for Wagner.
“This weekend was helpful in so many ways,” O'Brien said. “We spent a great deal of time together and grew as a team. We are developing a personality as a group and are bonding as a team as well. On the field, we are seeing steady improvement and the staff is working hard on getting our student-athletes to buy into our system and style of play.”
“Assistant Coach Stuart Dick has done a great job breaking down video,” O'Brien continued. “He is excellent at using all types of technology to help the team better understand what we are trying to accomplish. In the end, the team came home with a satisfying win which makes the trip much easier for us all.”
The Stags will now return home for a program-record seven game home stand. Fairfield opens up the Fairfield Women's Soccer Invitational on Friday against Drexel at 7:30pm.
