FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Head Coach Julie Brzezinski and five former Fairfield University student-athletes were named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) 40th Anniversary Softball Team. Brzezinski was one of three coaches selected to the team and joined Lauren Liseth (2011-14), Destinee Pallotto (2015-18), Mellissa Santos (2000-03), Ellen Sarosy (2000-03), and Kim Zagajeski (1988-91). The MAAC celebrates its 40^th Anniversary throughout the 2020-21 academic year, continuing its mission to provide student-athletes the opportunity to succeed in both academics and athletics.

 Brzezinski finished her 23^rd season as the Stags' head softball coach and has captured two MAAC tournament championships and seven MAAC regular-season titles. She was named the MAAC Coach of the Year twice (2012 and 2004) and was a co-recipient once (2002). Brzezinski has posted 851 wins in her 31 seasons as a head coach and 606 victories as the Stags' head coach. She entered the 2020 season ranked 25^th in career wins among active coaches in Division I.



Lauren Liseth, who served as a catcher, infielder, and a designated player, finished her career as one of the top offensive players in school history. She is the program's all-time co-leader with 124 runs batted in and also places second in career runs scored with 135. Liseth also collected honors from the conference over her four-year stay, earning the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2011 and the conference's Player of the Year in 2013. 



Destinee Pallotto was a member of two MAAC Championship teams, helping the Stags capture their first two-ever NCAA Tournament berths. She was the winning pitcher in the 2017 tournament title game as she tossed a no-hitter to send Fairfield to its NCAA Tournament in three seasons. The right-hander left Fairfield as one of the top pitchers in several statistical categories placing ninth in career innings (448.1) and career appearances (95), as well as fourth in career strikeouts (320) and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (5.00). 



Mellissa Santos finished her career at Fairfield as the program's all-time leader in wins (83), career earned run average (1.12), career complete games (106), innings pitched (890.2) and career strikeouts (1,156). She was named the 2003 and 2002 MAAC Pitcher of the Year and the 2001 MAAC Co-Pitcher of the Year. She earned four All-MAAC first team honors, and three All-Region awards. Santos is also the all-time MAAC leader for strikeouts in a season (401) and a career in addition to career wins.



Ellen Sarosy is the all-time MAAC leader with 252 hits, six better than the next best conference total and 21 hits more than the next student-athlete on the Stags' career list. She is a four-time All-MAAC outfielder and earned back-to-back MAAC Player of the Year accolades (2002 and 2003). Sarosy also ranks on Fairfield's statistical lists for career runs (third with 128), career singles (first with 236), career batting average (sixth with .339), and career stolen bases (first with 112). She is the only Stag to steal more than 100 bases in a career.



Kim Zagajeski also earned two MAAC Player of the Year awards, capturing the honors following the 1989 and 1991 seasons. She earned the 1991 MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player award as she helped the Stags earn their first-ever MAAC Tournament title. She contributed both as a pitcher and as a hitter, still ranking among the Stags' career leaders in several categories. She places fourth in career batting average (.355) off 163 career hits. The pitcher ranks third in career ERA (1.31), 10th in career innings pitched (430.2), and seventh in career strikeouts (291).