FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It's been exactly 101 days since Fairfield University was able to enjoy a home game, but the wait is over as the 2019-20 Fairfield Athletic season will officially get underway. The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team will kick off their campaign as they take the pitch at Lessing Field and host the Colgate Red Raiders on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 4pm. This will be the first time since 2000 that the Stags will open up their season with a home match.
 
"This year, I think there's a consistent message that everybody has been hearing," Head Coach David Barrett said. "They're all going to be of one mindset."
 
With every new year there's a rush of new expectations, and the same can be said for the 2019 version of the Stags. Fairfield will have nearly as many newcomers (15) as they do returners (16) from last year's squad. Included in the 16 returners are eight of the top-10 points leaders from a season ago, headlined by junior Gabby Diodati, who has led the Stags in assists in each of her first two seasons.
 
THE DEFENSE
 
The Stags plan to make Diodati an even bigger presence through the game by switching the team's best playmaker to right-back.
 
 "She's good enough on the ball to affect the game," Barrett said. "That's part of our plan by putting her out there. We want her to be just as important with the ball as without the ball."
 
Now moving to the back four, Diodati will also anchor the defensive line that could feature three newcomers in the Starting XI. Transfer Kelsey Gilbert and freshmen Josie Horosky and Olivia Homan have made an immediate impact during preseason and are all expected to compete for a starting spot.
 
Gilbert appeared in a career-high 10 matches for Providence before transferring to the Stags during the spring. Gilbert is expected to play opposite Diodati at left back with Horosky and Homan in the middle.
 
Horosky was a three-time All-State and All-Conference player for Housatonic Regional, scoring 45 goals and dishing out 35 career assists in her four seasons.
 
Homan was a four-year defensive standout at Northern Highlands, helping her squad to a No. 1 national ranking in the USA Today / United Soccer Coaches Super 25 rankings in September. She enters Fairfield after a memorable high school career that featured three New Jersey State titles, four State Sectional titles, and 60 shutouts.
 
"I think our defensive this year will be more athletic but inexperienced," Barrett said. "They understand the game and how we want to do it. They're still learning as well but they're coachable so I think they're making good strides because they're definitely more than capable."
 
The defense will be the youngest spot for the Stags which will also add five freshmen: Kristi Mikula, Shannon McWilliams, Mikayla Obrist, Corrin Motyka, and Kayla Leary into the mix.
 
THE MIDFIELD
 
The midfield will be comprised of some key pieces for the 2019 season as sophomores Hanley Courter, Amy Akerley, and Brooke Hernon will look to build upon solid freshmen campaigns.
 
Courter jumped around between the defensive back four and the midfield unit last season and was the only freshman to start and appear in all 18 matches. While her true presence on the field was felt defensively, she had some key moments on the offensive end with two goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal in Fairfield's biggest win of the year over NCAA Tournament team Hofstra.
 
Akerley tied the team's rookie lead with seven points on two goals and three assists. Akerley showed development throughout the season and appeared in 17 matches. She was responsible for Fairfield's first win of the season as she tallied the game-winner against LIU Brooklyn.
 
Hernon was the only Stag to win a MAAC Rookie of the Week award last season after tallying two goals in less than a minute against Saint Peter's. She led the Stags' freshmen with three goals and tied for the lead with seven points.
 
"Our midfield is going to remain a question mark for a while," Barrett said. "We definitely need to answer the question through sharing the roles and having individuals step up and respond to the challenge. These are very capable players so we anticipate that they will rise to the occasion."
 
To go along with the trio, senior Melanie Hingher will see more time in the midfield area, mostly as a holding defender. Hingher will bring the most experience into the Stags midfield lineup, starting in 49 matches during her three seasons.
 
Freshmen Allie Landino and transfer Ally Filipkowski will also see time in the midfield attacking areas.
 
 
THE FORWARDS
 
The Stags will create most of their offense through the attacking midfield that is comprised of speed and power. Junior Liz Dumas will return as Fairfield's active goal scoring leader and is expected to be the big presence up front as a striker and midfielder. Dumas led the team with 56 shots last season and is expected to be a bigger presence on the attack.
 
"Liz has the ability to influence a game with her abilities," Barrett said. "Again, we are going to ask her to raise her level and keep it consistently at a high level in order for us to be successful."
 
Rookie Brooke Jones looks to be a good compliment to Dumas and will enter Fairfield after scoring 40 career goals with 45 assists for Duxbury. Her high school honors include a First Team Eastern Mass All-Star and three Patriot League All-Star selections.
 
Rising senior Jenn Wahlig will also see more time in the attacking front after spending three seasons on defense and in the midfield.
 
To add to the pace up front, the Stags will look to: Julia McGuire, Julia Kleczkowski, and Shannon Ryan. The trio have combined for five goals and five assists during their careers and will look to add pace and energy coming off the bench.
 
Junior Nicole Stryjek and freshman Hannah Vogt will also see time up front.
 
GOALKEEPERS
 
The Stags return their starting goalkeeper from 2018 in sophomore Aytana Muschajew after posting 60 saves and four shutouts during her rookie season. Two of those clean sheets came in her first two career starts after shutting out LIU Brooklyn and Hofstra in earning the MAAC Rookie of the Week award. Muschajew tallied a 1.43 goals against average and saw 87 percent of the team's minutes in 2018.
 
However, Barrett has stated that the Stags will split the goalkeeping duties at least early on with freshman Gena Pike also impressing during the preseason. Pike was an All-Conference First Team performer for Morristown Beard Academy, leading the squad to their first-ever Group Title in the North Jersey Non-Public B Championship. Pike spent most of her time as a goalkeeper but also saw time as a field player, even scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game.
 
Freshman Maddie McClenathan will also be added to the mix when returning from injury.
 
"Both Aytana and Gena have strengths they bring to the team," Barrett said. "We'll take the first few games to see how they each do under the bright lights of competition and hopefully one will emerge by the time our conference season begins in September."
 
The Stags will open up their season against Colgate, who finished last season with an 11-4-3 record, including a 1-0 win over the Stags. The Red Raiders went 7-1-1 in the Patriot League last season but were upset on a last minute goal in the Patriot League semifinals. Five different student-athletes were chosen to the Preseason All-Patriot League team led by senior midfielder Mara Cosentino who was named the Preseason Midfielder of the Year. She was also named to the MAC Herman Trophy Watch List after producing 13 points last season and earning the Patriot League Midfield of the Year.
 
The 2019 season will be the second year under Head Coach David Barrett, whose seven victories last year brought his career coaching total to 241 for the 18-year coaching veteran.