FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team clinched a bye into the upcoming MAAC Semifinals as they held on for a 3-2 victory over Niagara on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Lessing Field. Maddie Mills led the attack with a goal and an assist with Reagan Klarmann adding another score and Katie Wright picking up six impressive saves in the victory. Before the match, the Stags honored the nine-member Senior Class of 2023.
 
"It was a hard game," Head Coach David Barrett said. "We had our hands full today and we gave away some opportunities that made it hard on ourselves. With that being said, we are a gritty group. We want to battle and we find ways. That says something about us. We're happy with the result, but this was a tough one. There's a chance we see them again so we have to figure somethings out before then."
 
In an exciting back-and-forth contest, the Stags were the first team on the board as they snuck one past in the 24th minute. Elle Scott sent a cross towards the back post which was tapped by a Niagara defender into the net for an own goal.
 
Both teams would add another score in the final five minutes of the first half with the Purple Eagles knotting the game with a goal by Maia MacLean in the 40th minute.
 
It would take Fairfield just three minutes to answer back when Reagan Klarmann received a ball from Mills and after making a move past the goalkeeper, she was able to sneak the ball in the left corner for her second goal of the season.
 
Niagara would tie the game again in the first few minutes of the second half with a long strike from Alexis Horwedel in the 50th minute.
 
With the score tied at 2-2, the Stags found some more heroics. Maddy Theriault sent a cross towards the middle of the box which was deflected by Scott and found the right foot of Mills who was able to push her chance past the goalkeeper and the Stags took a 3-2 lead.
 
All the drama was not done, however, as Niagara pushed the pace. With under five minutes left in the game, Niagara's Emma Bough collected a turnover inside the goalkeeper's box and sent a looping ball towards the goal. Wright was able to extend her arms and get a fingertip on the ball forcing the shot high.
 
Wright collected six saves in the contest and had another fully extended save in the first half. She has now recorded 13 wins in her rookie season, tying her for the third most in a single season in program history.
 
With her goal and assist, Mills takes over the team lead with 18 points on six goals and six assists. Scott tallied her team-best seventh assist while Theriault was credited with her fifth helper of the year.
 
On their Senior Day, the nine-member Senior Class improved their record on Lessing Field to 22-3-2 with seven wins in each of the last two seasons.
 
The 8-1 MAAC record for the Stags ties the most conference wins by Fairfield since 2012. They are now tied atop the league table with Quinnipiac with 24 points. The Stags have clinched a bye into the MAAC Semifinals and will host a home game on Thursday, Nov. 3.
 
Fairfield will close out their regular season schedule when they host Iona on Wednesday night at 7pm.