FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team started the 2021 campaign on the right foot as they out-shot the visiting LIU Sharks 19-2 en-route to a season opening 2-0 shutout victory on Lessing Field. Eleven different players tallied at least one shot, with Gabby Diodati the only Stag to touch net on a penalty kick opportunity.
 
"We said before the game that we didn't expect to be perfect and we certainly weren't but we're still learning and still trying to put pieces together," Head Coach David Barrett said. "We made some adjustments at halftime that helped us out and I think there are questions in our lineup that we are still trying to work out. We'll take the result but we know we have to do better moving forward."
 
The Stags were in control from the very start of the game, surrendering just two LIU shots in the entire match, coming in the 30th and 73rd minutes.
 
Despite the 19-2 shot advantage, the Stags did not score a goal during live play as their two scores came on an own goal a couple of minutes into the second half and a Diodati penalty kick three minutes later.
 
Ten of Fairfield's 19 shots were on target with LIU's goalkeeper Kayla Detreux tallying eight saves. Elle Scott had the first two real attempts against Detreux as she found herself a few feet in front of the goal, but her point blank shot was stopped on the ground by Detreux. All three of Scott's attempts forced a save by the goalkeeper.
 
In her first collegiate match, Reagan Klarmann led all players with four shots, with two of those long distance attempts barely missing the mark wide in the first half.
 
The scoring was opened in the 47th minute when a LIU defender bounced the ball over the head of the goalkeeper for an own goal. Minutes later, Scott was taken down in the box and Diodati converted the penalty kick opportunity for her 10th career goal.
 
Despite the 2-0 lead the Stags tried mightily for that third goal and almost found the back of the net on a few occasions. Lexi Lehan was impressive up front with a career-high three shots. Her best chance came in the 54th minute as she tapped a cross from Brooke Hernon just inches above the crossbar. She also had an attempt in front of the net in the 60th minute blocked away by a defender.
 
The Fairfield defense allowed just two LIU shots with both of those stopped by Gena Pike.
 
Fairfield also had a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The Stags will hit the road for the first time in the 2021 season as they hit the state of Massachusetts for three games, starting with a Sunday afternoon contest at Northeastern at 5pm.