FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team will be heading into conference play with all the momentum they could ask for. The Stags ran their unbeaten streak to five matches as they shutout the Dartmouth Big Green for a 1-0 victory on Lessing Field.
Elle Scott provided the game-winner in the 14th minute and
Gena Pike set a season-high with seven saves.
"Dartmouth is well-coached and organized and we created some good chances in a good college soccer game," Head Coach
David Barrett said. "We need to learn how to win these games and we did today. That was our challenge before the game. We wanted to make a statement to ourselves and convince ourselves we can get a result against a good side like this. I'm really proud of the team for their resiliency and finding a way to get it done today."
The Stags needed just 14 minutes to open the scoring when
Gabby Diodati sent a cross into the box where Scott was able to get a head and fling it past the goalkeeper for the 1-0 advantage. The goal was the third of year for Scott while Diodati picked up her second assist.
The entire match was back and forth with both sides creating chances. Dartmouth held a slight advantage with shots, taking 14 attempts compared to 13 for the Stags. Pike had to come up big for the home side as she registered a season-high seven saves.
The Big Green tried to find the equalizer in the final minutes of the first half, taking three shots in the last five minutes, but Pike was able to stop attempts from the Ivy League goal scoring leader Allie Winstanley and Dana Hase.
Pike's final save was one of the most important as she punched away a left footed shot from Izzy Glennon and the Stags were able to clear the dangerous corner kick.
Freshman
Reagan Klarmann took nine of Fairfield's 13 shots with three of those on target. Klarmann leads the team with 30 shots.
The loss snaps Dartmouth's season long five game unbeaten streak, which featured a 1-1 draw against No. 8 Georgetown.
The Stags will now open the most important portion of their schedule as they compete against their first MAAC team on the road when they visit Marist on Saturday at 1pm.
