FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fresh off their most exciting match of the season, the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team will play for a spot in the MAAC Championship match when they travel to face the top seed and regular season champions Monmouth on Thursday at 6pm. The Stags and Hawks played nearly even during their regular season matchup, with Monmouth netting a goal in the 100th minute for the 1-0 win.
That matchup with the Hawks was one of several dramatic finishes for the Stags this season, highlighted by one of their most exciting wins in recent years. Trailing 1-0 with less than a minute left against Niagara, the Stags went the length of the pitch and earned a throw-in with 15 seconds left. That would lead to a chance in the box where
Stephanie Tsangaris headed the ball into the penalty area that forced a clearance attempt by a Niagara defender which hit off her arm. The Stags were given a penalty kick with just three seconds left in regulation.
Gabby Diodati, one of two Stags who were named to the All-MAAC First Team, presided over the kick and snuck the ball under the crossbar for the dramatic tie.
The Stags would then connect on all five of their penalty kick attempts with goalkeeper
Gena Pike clinching the game with her penalty strike.
The dramatic victory has been a common theme for the Stags this season who have scored 19 goals in the second halves this season with seven scores coming in the final 10 minutes of the game.
The Stags were able to defeat Manhattan and Siena with goals coming in the 88th minute and were able to draw even against Sacred Heart and Niagara with goals in the final minute.
The Hawks come into the matchup with 13 overall wins on the season and securing their eighth regular season championship in just nine years. Monmouth had eight players named to an All-MAAC team highlighted by Sarina Jones named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Jones and the Monmouth defense have held opponents to a 1.33 goals against average and just 8.7 shots per game.
Fairfield will be playing for their 13th appearance in the MAAC Championship match and their first since 2019. The Stags have won seven MAAC titles with their last one coming in 2008.
The winner of this match will play the winner of No. 2 Quinnipiac and No. 4 Siena on Sunday afternoon.
