FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's soccer team recorded a season-high 10 shots on goal but they were all stopped by Stony Brook's goalkeeper Cara Gallagher and the Seawolves took a 2-0 decision over the Stags in Fairfield's 2016 home opener. Fairfield out-shot Stony Brook 18-14 but a breakaway goal in the first and second half by Stony Brook were the only two attempts to touch the back of the net.
“We're certainly disappointed,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “We're going to keep working hard and the bottom line is we have to be ready for Canisius to open up the MAAC. I honestly feel that we're going to be fine.”
Throughout the game, both squads kept pushing the pressure on each side which accounted for 32 shots and 13 corner kicks. Stony Brook (1-3-1) had the majority of those corner kicks in the first half when they tallied seven in the first 45 minutes. Fortunately for the Stags (1-4), none of those corner kicks translated into goals. However, Stony Brook struck after Lindsay Hutchinson headed out a goal kick and pushed it ahead of the Fairfield defense, allowing Julie Johnstonbaugh to tap in the first score of the game. This score came after the Seawolves nearly tallied the opening score, but Melanie Hingher kicked away a shot from captain Priscilla Wiggins and was credited with the defensive save.
The Stags had their share of chances to even up the match in the first period, with the best chance coming from Jenn Wahlig who struck the ball on the right wing, forcing Gallagher to leap and knock the ball over the post for her best save of her 10 stops. Brenna Brown also had a chance with time running down in the opening frame, but her shot rolled wide after the cross.
Jenna Pike recorded her first save 48 minutes into the game, but it was one for the highlight reels. Hannah Groth reared back and fired a shot from the corner of the 18-yard box that forced Pike to leap and tap the ball over the post with her out-stretched hand.
The Stags conceded their second goal when Johnstonbaugh launched a long pass that speedster Raven Edwards chased down and raced past the backline for her first goal of the season, after scoring nine in 2015. Fairfield forced two more of the career-high 10 saves by Gallagher with shots by Hingher and Julia McGuire but both were easily picked up.
Wahlig tallied three of the 10 shots on goal for the Stags to record a new career best for the freshman. Elena Santos led the Stags overall with four shots including one in the 47th minute that sailed inches high over the top right corner of the post.
“We're getting our chances, we just have to do a better job at taking them,” Coach O'Brien said. “We've just got to make better decisions when we get there. We took a lot of shots, but they didn't really test the goalkeeper besides Wahlig's shot. I'd be concerned if we weren't getting chances. Once we start making better decisions when we get in the box, then they will go our way.”
The Stags will start off a grueling three day stretch to end their non-conference slate when they travel to reigning Big East Regular Season Champions St. John's on Sunday at 7:30pm.
