FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's soccer team will take on Quinnipiac University in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinal match on Wednesday afternoon with the winner advancing to the MAAC championship match on Saturday. Game time is slated for 3 pm. The Stags and the Bobcats are meeting for the second time this season with Quinnipiac taking a 1-0 overtime decision at Lessing Field during the regular season.

The Stags earned their berth to the semifinals after defeating fourth-seeded Saint Peter's University by a 1-0 score in Jersey City over the weekend. Defender Hugo Espuela-Hurtado netted the game-winning goal in the 89th minute with a header of a corner kick by Jonathan Filipe to send the Stags into the semifinals for the third time in the last four tournaments. For Espuela-Hurtado, it was his first goal of the year which made him the seventh Stag to score a goal this season. Gordon Botterill made two saves in the game to record the shutout, his third straight shutout which extended his scoreless minute streak to 334 which dates back to giving up a goal in the first minute of the second half against Monmouth.

Botterill lowered his goals against average to 0.81 which places third among MAAC goalkeepers. Three of the team's four wins have been by shutout with the exception being the 2-1 decision over Monmouth. The senior has registered 22 saves in his seven appearances this season, averaging just over three stops per game. He owns an impressive .786 save percentage, making eight saves without surrendering a goal over the last three dates.

Jonathan Filipe leads the team in scoring with eight points, scoring three goals and adding two assists during his seven appearances. Most of his points have come in the last four games, scoring a goal against Monmouth and Manhattan before earning his assist in the quarterfinal match last Sunday. Alex Oliveira is next in line among the team's scoring leaders with five points, collecting a pair of goals and an assist through his seven games played. Matt McGlinchey places third with his four points, scoring a goal and adding a team-tying high two assists to his total.

The Bobcats, who own a 6-1 overall record, also advanced with a one-goal win, shutting out Siena College at home in their MAAC quarterfinal match. Quinnipiac played a well-contested match with the Saints and the two teams seemed primed for overtime before David Bercedo broke the scoreless tie with his goal in the 78th minute. The sophomore converted a pass from Domen Bozic, the first assist of the season for the sophomore. 

Bercedo posted his third goal of the season which gives him seven points heading into this week's action. His point total is surpassed only by Brage Aasen's 12 points which is the result of four goals and four assists for 12 points in seven games. All four of his goals came last week when he netted two goals in both the Iona and Manhattan matches. The Bobcat offense has many options as illustrated by the nine student-athletes who have at least one goal this season.

In goal, Quinnipiac has a pair of goalkeepers who have seen significant playing time this season. Jared Mazzola started four games and registered a 0.54 goals against average with a .867 save percentage. He has 13 saves in four games, averaging 3.3 saves per contest. Antreas Hadjigavriel recorded a 1.39 goals against average with a .643 save percentage in four appearances, making nine saves for an average of 2.3 stops per match.