FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Head Coach David Barrett can't pinpoint one exact reason for the incredible turnaround of the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team in the 2019 season. But, the results speak for themselves and after missing the tournament last season and being picked seventh in the MAAC Preseason Poll, the Stags will be playing for the conference championship. Junior captain Gabby Diodati netted the game's only goal in the 78th minute and sophomore Aytana Muschajew made a couple incredible saves in net to propel the Stags to their first championship match since 2014, with a 1-0 victory over Quinnipiac.
 
"Our mental toughness has grown, we just battle a lot more," Coach Barrett said. "The character of the team came through. They were selfless to put the needs of the team first. They start to see success and I think that definitely helps. I think the message has some merit because we're seeing some of that success when we get on to the field. It was a combination of a lot of things that we have been working towards."
 
"It was important for us to all come together and realize the amount of work that we have to put in to get where we want to go," Diodati said. "Everyone has been really focused, really tuned in and all want to accomplish that same goal. I think that was really the driving force of why we're going to the MAAC Championship on Sunday."
 
Diodati let out an excited laugh as she finally got to utter those words of the Stags heading to the MAAC Championship, and the junior was a big focal point in the victory. In the 78th minute, Julia McGuire played the ball into the box, giving Diodati a chance to make a special play. And just like she has done all season long, the Stags' best playmaker delivered. She spun around the defense and was able to unleash a shot in the upper half to give the Stags a 1-0 lead.
 
Diodati was not the only Stag to have a memorable performance, sophomore goalkeeper Aytana Muschajew had one of the best games of her career, keeping the Bobcats off the board. Muschajew was credited with four saves, with her last pair being the most crucial.
 
Her first big stop came in the 80th minute when Quinnipiac's Hannah Reiter was able to tip a point-blank shot off a chipped pass. Muschajew came off her line a slapped away the shot and keeping Quinnipiac at bay.
 
Muschajew saved the game again in the final minutes, fully extending to turn away a header from Kylie Lance.
 
The clean sheet was Fairfield's eighth of the season and helps them to advance to their first tournament final since 2014.
 
The Stags will play at the same site of that 2014 MAAC Championship as they will head to West Long Branch, N.J., to face the top-seeded Monmouth Hawks on Sunday at 4pm. Fairfield will be looking for their first MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.