FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It took the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team 45 minutes to find their offensive rhythm on a brisk and chilly evening at Lessing Field, but the Stags would score three unanswered goals in the second half to take a 3-1 victory over Saint Peter's in their home finale. At the center of the rally was freshman
Brooke Hernon who recorded her first career multi-goal game, including what would become the game-winner.
Alex Madden chipped in with her 12th goal of the season and also added an assist in the victory.
"Obviously it wasn't the start that we hoped for," Head Coach
David Barrett said. "We had to be patient when we fell behind. The Saint Peter's tactics was going to give us the ball so we just needed to be patient and find opportunities in transition and we found a way to break them down."
On the coldest home match of the year, the Stags (7-7-2, 2-4-2 MAAC) fell behind just 1:52 into the contest when Saint Peter's (2-12, 2-6 MAAC) Julianna Murrill softly tapped a cross that barely crept across the goal line to put the Peacocks up 1-0.
That would be only one of three shots that Fairfield's defense would allow in the contest. On the other side, Fairfield had chances with 10 shot attempts in the opening 45 minutes, but only
Gabby Diodati was able to get a shot on target.
That all changed in the second half as the Stags tallied all three of their scores. Madden extended her conference lead with her 12th goal of the season as she struck a pass from
Amy Akerley to put the Stags on the board. With that goal, Madden moved to a tie for fifth place on the program's single season scoring list.
Hernon would take over the match after that score, netting both of her tallies in less than a minute. Her first goal was the best of her career as she sent a looping shot from the right side of the box that perfectly tucked into the top left side of the net. Just 56 seconds later, Hernon would cap the Fairfield scoring with a header off a corner kick sent by Madden.
The Stags out-shot the Peacocks 28-3, including an 18-1 margin in the second half.
The Stags will look to keep their momentum going in Western New York when they take on Niagara on Saturday at noon.
