FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the members of the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team, it was a moment they have been working for since the day they stepped on to campus. All that hard work throughout the years finally came to fruition as the Stags made history and won the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship with a 1-0 victory over Quinnipiac on Sunday.
 
The Stags hoisted the MAAC trophy for the ninth time in program history and the first time since 2008. Fairfield also tied a single-season record with their 18th victory, representing the most wins in the country. Fairfield also extended their home winning streak to 16-straight matches, the longest in the nation. The Stags have advanced to the NCAA Tournament and will find out their opponent during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 4pm.
 
The MAAC Championship's Most Outstanding Player, Maddy Theriault tallied the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute after a deflected save off a Meghan Carragher free kick. Theriault's score extended her MAAC lead with her 13th score of the season.
 
"I'm just really pleased for the team," Head Coach David Barrett said. "I thought it was a really good performance today. I thought we were the best team in the league all season long, we deserved to be here, we had the right to be here and play on our home field. We knew it was going to be a tough game and we just kept ourselves in a position to make a play and when the occasion presented itself, we got it done."
 
That occasion presented itself in the 73rd minute after Fairfield (18-2-1) earned itself a freekick right outside the corner pf the penalty area. Carragher, an All-MAAC First Team member, sent a line drive towards net that was knocked down by the Quinnipiac goalkeeper, but found the foot of Theriault who converted the chance for the eventual game-winner.
 
The goal was the 31st of Theriault's career and her 11th game-winner, tying for the third most in program history.
 
On the defensive side, the Stags withheld Quinnipiac's scoring chances, including a pair of close calls in the second half. The closest came on a right-footed effort by Courtney Chochol that went wide of the post.
 
The trio of Reagan Klarmann, Allie Kirby, and Sam Kersey were named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team while Theriault claimed Most Outstanding Player honors.
 
The Stags, who hold the highest winning percentage in the NCAA, will advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament for the first time since 2008. They will find out their first round opponent during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 4pm.