WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – In their final road contest of the 2017 season, the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team fell 2-0 to the Monmouth Hawks on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Stags fall to 6-9 overall and 4-5 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), while the Hawks improve to 11-3-2, 8-1 MAAC, and also clinch the regular season title.
 
The Stags played defense most of the first half, having to defend 14 shots and eight corners over the first 45 minutes. Despite the high number of opportunities, the Stags were able to keep the Hawks' chances off target, allowing only one shot on goal. However, that would be the most important shot of the first stanza. On the sixth corner kick of the first half, Gabriella Cuevas was able to tap in a loose ball for the first score of the match.
 
Fairfield had a couple of chances on the counter attacks, with Alex Madden getting the final touch in each. The freshman recorded the only shot for the Stags in the first half as her attempt in the 38th minute just rolled wide. On another chance, the rookie was able to flick the ball over the diving goalkeeper, but that attempt also trickled wide.
 
The Stags came out more aggressive out of the locker room, recording their first shot two minutes into the second period. Liz Dumas fired a line drive shot right on goal, but it was caught by the Hawks' goalkeeper Amanda Knaub. Fairfield would also test Knaub in the 60th minute when Faith Daley lined a left footed shot, but Knaub caught the line drive.
 
Fairfield would record their first corner kick in the 65th minute as a result of Dumas' brilliant run into the box. After the corner, Melanie Hingher found the ball near the end line, and tried to line a cross, but it was intercepted by Knaub.
 
Monmouth would get their insurance goal in the 70th minute when Dana Scheriff deflected a shot from Sophie Centi into the low corner.
 
Fairfield would record their two best chances of the match in the final 10 minutes. Holly Habyan lined a right footed shot that just sailed over the crossbar. Eight minutes later, Madden gave Knaub her biggest test of the match, requiring the goalkeeper to mad a falling catch to her right.
 
In total the Stags were out-shot 24-6 and had two corner kicks compared to Monmouth's 12.
 
Fairfield will close out the regular season portion of the 2017 season when they host Marist on Senior Day on Saturday at 1pm.