FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Molly Moran, Cassidy Boegel, Sydney Arestivo, Pamela Coufos, Brenna Brown, and Anna Borea have taken to the Lessing Field pitch many times over the last four years, and Saturday afternoon will be their last. The Fairfield University women's soccer team will recognize the six-member Class of 2017 on their Senior Day when the Stags host Rider at 1pm on Saturday afternoon. The match will conclude the home schedule for the Stags, who will finish their season at Manhattan on Wednesday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Stags are coming off arguably their biggest result of the season, a scoreless draw against league leading Monmouth on Wednesday. The tie snapped the Hawks' seven game winning streak, which was the fourth longest streak in the country. In order to accomplish this feat, the Stags had to shut down the third-highest scoring offense in the country, and did so with a complete team effort and a career day by sophomore goalkeeper Megan DeFeo. The goalkeeper more than doubled her previous career-high by making nine saves while facing 21 shots. With the draw, the Stags became the first MAAC team this season to take a point from Monmouth, who had a conference record of 7-0-0 prior to the match. The Hawks were also shutout for the first time since August 28, and had scored 41 goals in the season which was just one score shy of the national lead.
THE SENIOR CLASS: Every senior class will be remembered for something different and the Class of 2017 will probably remembered for the professional way they have conducted themselves on and off the pitch. They have really defined the term student athlete. On the field, they have combined for 49 goals and 19 assists with accolades and records mixed in. But their true contribution for the program is how they have led by example in the classroom. Between the six seniors, they have been named to 11 MAAC All-Academic squads and have helped the team receive three NSCAA Team Academic awards by averaging over a 3.5 GPA between the six of them.
FAIRFIELD VS RIDER: This will be the 23rd game between the two schools, with the Stags holding a 16-5-1 record all-time against the Broncs. The Stags are on a current nine-game home winning streak against Rider, as the Stags are a perfect 9-0-0 in the series at Lessing Field. No current Stag has scored a goal against the Broncs, but Faith Daley helped shape the last home match against the Broncs when she launched a cross field pass to Ashley Small late in the game as the Stags pulled off a 1-0 victory in 2014.
THE BRONCS SCOUTING REPORT: The Broncs have already secured a playoff spot and enter the match trying to secure a first round bye with a 6-2-1 conference record. Of course when talking about Rider, you have to mention their standout goalkeeper Bethany-May Howard who was named the 2014 MAAC Tournament MVP after leading the Broncs over the Stags in the Championship Match. This season, she is second in the conference with a 1.02 goals against average, but over half of the conference goals she allowed came in one game against Monmouth. Besides that contest, the senior has allowed more than one goal in just two games this season. Offensively, Ellie Smith has been their go-to scorer with a team-high eight goals, already doubling her career total.
TICKET INFORMATION: To efficiently enter Lessing Field, individual game tickets can now be purchased and printed in advance through www.fairfield.edu/stagstickets. All tickets either printed or displayed on your mobile phone will be scanned at the ticket gate on game day. General admission tickets are $5, seniors and children 12 and under are $3. For customer service please email stagstickets@fairfied.edu or call 203-254-4136.
UP NEXT: The Stags will conclude the 2016 season when they travel to Manhattan on Wednesday night at 7pm.
