FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team are on win away from fulfilling their dream season and they will compete for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship when they take on in-state rivals and top-seeded Quinnipiac on the road on Sunday at noon. The Stags will be looking for the program's eighth tournament title and their first since 2008.
 
The seven MAAC Championships are the most among any active member in the MAAC and the 12 championship match appearances, also lead all member schools. Fairfield will be competing in the title game for the first time since 2019 and the second time under Head Coach David Barrett.
 
Fairfield used three second half goals in their semifinal match against Mount St. Mary's to advance for the chance to win the conference crown. Sophomore Maddy Theriault, who enters the match as the MAAC leader in points (26) and goals (10), netted a pair of those scores and dished out an assist in the 3-0 shutout victory. Allie Kirby opened the scoring in the 58th minute as she got a touch off the corner kick from Meghan Carragher to put the score at 1-0.
 
Carragher and Theriault would increase their team-lead with their sixth assists of the year. Elle Scott led all the playmakers with a pair of assists, to bring her career number to 17, the seventh most in program history.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Wright made that lead stay as she made five saves including one off a penalty kick for her seventh shutout of the season and the 11th of her career. All-time she ranks seventh in shutouts, ninth in saves (116), and sixth in goals against average (1.18).
 
The Stags took 23 shots in their 3-0 victory, the eighth time this season they have totaled 20 or more shots. Fairfield ranks atop of the MAAC and sixth in the country with 19.5 shots per game. The 371 shots taken this season is a program record, surpassing the 1999 squad who attempt 357.
 
Quinnipiac enters play as the tournament's top-seed after posting a 9-0-1 conference record and a 1-0 shutout victory over Rider in the semifinals. The Bobcats had 11 All-MAAC selections, including seven representatives on the All-MAAC First Team. Led by their defense, the Bobcats had three players earn the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year award and Sofia Lospinoso also took home the MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year.
 
The MAAC Golden Boot winner Courtney Chochol leads the team with eight goals and a conference-best nine assists.
 
With a win, the Stags will capture the program's eighth MAAC Championship and will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time and the first time since 2008.