FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It's not about how many shots you take but how many cross the line. The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team dominated the Manhattan Jaspers, outshooting their opposition 27-4, but it came down to their final attempt with just seven minutes left when Stephanie Tsangaris was finally able to put one past the goalkeeper and give the Stags a 1-0 victory on Senior Day.
 
"It comes down to putting people in in spots that help them be the most successful," Head Coach David Barrett said. "I'm pleased to get the result, I thought it was well-earned. We did a much better job and made some adjustments at halftime and people in better spots to be successful and I thought we responded well."
 
"I'm really happy for the team," Tsangaris, who scored her sixth career game-winning goal said. "Senior Day I'm really happy we pulled it out with the win. We had the majority of the possession the entire game so I'm just glad we were able to find the back of the net and get the W."
 
It took the Stags (1-1-1) 84 minutes and 26 shot attempts to find the back of the net, but their final attempt came at an opportune time. Caroline Kelly created the chance as she sent over a cross to the top of the box where Elle Scott was able to get a head on and deflect past the defender. That ball found the feet of Tsangaris who had a close 1v1 chance with the keeper and deposited the chance to the bottom right. Both Kelly and Scott were credited with assists, the first and second of their careers respectively.
 
The result was well-earned as the Stags controlled the pace for the majority of the match, setting up 27 shots and seven corner kicks, with the majority of those attempts coming far out of the box.
 
Two of Fairfield's 11 first half attempts were on target as Scott and Allie Kirby's chances required saves from Manhattan's keeper Kim Mains. Kirby's was the best chance for the Stags as she sent a long strike towards the crossbar that Mains was able to leap and barely deflect over the bar.
 
Although only four of Fairfield's 27 attempts were on target, they set up several chance through nicely designed runs especially in the second half. Scott and Brooke Hernon were responsible for most of those runs down the channels, with the duo combining for five shots. Hernon's low shot in the 70th minute barely snuck wide of the net.
 
The Fairfield freshmen class was responsible for 12 shots with Kelly leading the way with five, including a shot on goal in the second half. Maddie Kiely tied Scott for second on the team with three shots.
 
Celebrating their senior day, the quartet of Gabby Diodati, Nicole Stryjek, Liz Dumas, and Shannon Ryan all impressed in one of their final matches on Lessing Field. Stryjek was the most dangerous in the second half as she got by the line of defenders a couple times, and had back-to-back shot attempts in the 65th minute, with her header barely going over the crossbar. Diodati had three chances in the afternoon, barely missing one high and wide in the 55th minute.
 
Gena Pike was credited with her first clean sheet of the season as she stopped all three shots on target by the Jaspers, who suffered their first loss of the season today.
 
After 11 days off, the Stags find themselves in their busiest stretch of the season, next taking the pitch on Tuesday at noon when they host Niagara in the final regular season home game for the Stags in the 2021 spring slate.