FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After their unforgettable West Coast trip, the Fairfield University women's soccer team will play in more familiar surroundings. The Stags will compete in their home state of Connecticut when they take part in the Yale University Classic in New Haven, Conn., facing Sacred Heart on Friday night at 7pm, followed by a 12:30pm matinee against Bryant on Sunday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last year's Big West regular season champions Long Beach State scored three goals in the first half and one in the second to down the Stags 4-0. After allowing six shots in the opening 17 minutes, the Stags settled their defense down and surrendered just eight attempts in the final 73 minutes. During that same frame, the Stags took seven shots of their own, including four on goal compared to three from the 49ers. Sydney Arestivo, Pamela Coufos, Faith Daley, and Julia McGuire all had an attempt on net while Jenna Pike made two saves in goal.
THE PIONEERS SCOUTING REPORT: The Pioneers, ranked sixth in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll, are currently unbeaten after the first weekend of the season, picking up a 2-1 win over Canisius and a 1-1 draw at Stony Brook. Sacred Heart returns a very talented sophomore class that comprised nine of the team's 20 goals as freshmen in 2015. Lindsay Corallo, who has missed the team's first two games, led the team with five assists as part of her NEC All-Rookie Team selection. Alex Mesropyan is the leading returning scorer out of the sophomore class, registering four goals as she was also selected to the NEC All-Rookie Team. Surprisingly, this will be the first time the two crosstown rivals meet in program history.
THE BULLDOGS SCOUTING REPORT: Last year's 3-1 loss to Bryant was the first loss against the Bulldogs in program history, and it also was the first career win for Head Coach Andy Biggs, who led Bryant to their first-ever NEC tournament appearance. Biggs did not have to wait as long for his first win of 2016, as Bryant comes into the weekend with two-straight victories to open the season, their first 2-0 start in program history. Remi Manna had the perfect start to her collegiate career, scoring the game winning goal in the 109th minute in her very first college game, giving Bryant a 1-0 win over Stony Brook. For her heroics, she was named the NEC Rookie of the Week. The Bulldogs would also shutout Iona 2-0, allowing goalkeeper Kaylan Conrad to collect the NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
UP NEXT: Fairfield will hit their home pitch for the first time in 2016, when they take on the Stony Brook Seawolves at Lessing Field on Friday, September 2, at 7pm.
