FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Throughout the years and in several different sports, Fairfield and Holy Cross have developed a rivalry. The next match in that Jesuit rivalry happens on Monday night. The Fairfield women's soccer team, fresh off a 3-1 win against Rhode Island, will play their sixth-straight home game when they host the Crusaders on Monday at 6pm.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield snapped a four match losing streak and Brenna Brown gained her revenge against Rhode Island, as the Stags defeated the Rams 3-1 on Friday. It was the first-ever win for the Stags against the Rams. Behind Brown, who tied a career-high with four points on two assists and a goal, the Stags struck three times in the first half to ease to the victory. Brown assisted on the game's first two goals, crossing balls to Karolyn Collins in the third minute and Sydney Arestivo in the 36th minute. Brown scored a goal of her own when Jenny Jacobs flung a pass near the goal and Brown collided with a defender to put in her first goal of the season. For Jacobs, it was her first career assist. Jenna Pike had a bounce back game, recording a career-high seven saves.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?: Brown's career game against Rhode Island was also arguably her best performance since returning from an injury that cost her half of last season. With her four points, Brown tied a career-high, which she set during her freshman season against Canisius when she tallied her only multi-goal game. The two assists was also a career best for Brown, who had just one assist in her first two years. In her career, Brown now has eight goals, the second most among any current Stag.
RE-ESTABLISHING HOME DOMINANCE: The win against Rhode Island stopped a four match home losing streak for the Stags, the longest in program history. Fairfield had been one of the best home teams in the country the last few years, setting a 19-match home unbeaten streak that was ended last season. The Stags needed just two more wins, to tie the 24th longest streak in NCAA history.
THE HOLY CROSS SCOUTING REPORT: The Crusaders come into the match with a 2-3-1 record, but both of those wins have come in the last two matches. Holy Cross finished last season with 10 wins, their most since 2000. This season, the Crusaders were picked to finish eighth in the 10 team Patriot League. The biggest returner for Holy Cross is the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year in Aly Spencer. The sophomore led the league with 11 goals last season. This year, Spencer is third on the team with two goals while Christina Callahan leads the team with three goals, after scoring just one during her freshman campaign in 2014.
THE STAGS V. THE CRUSADERS: Since Holy Cross won the first meeting between the two teams in 1992, the Stags are 9-0-2 against Holy Cross. Prior to their draw last season, Fairfield had won nine-straight in the series, with another happening in 1993. Last year, Holy Cross came into the match against the Stags with a perfect 6-0 record, but their winning streak would end when Kathleen Early had the best performance of her career up until that point, recording a career-high 12 saves and faced a barrage of 23 shots. Anna Borea tied up the game in the 75th minute after Sarah Price gave the Crusaders a lead two minutes prior.
UP NEXT: Fairfield will finally end their home stand and play their first MAAC game of the season when they host Niagara on Saturday at 1pm.
