FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer program will begin their 34th Division I season, and kick off the 2024 Fairfield Athletic season, when they welcome the Holy Cross Crusaders to Lessing Field on Thursday at 4:30pm. The contest is free to all fans as part of Fairfield's Free Summer Soccer during the month of August.
 
The Stags were picked to finish second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in the preseason poll as they return all eight of their All-MAAC players from last season. Fairfield also brings back 97 percent of their goal scoring, losing only one of their 35 scores in 2023.
 
Junior Maddy Theriault headlines the group of returners after leading the conference with 10 goals last year. The All-MAAC First Team honoree, was also selected as the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year for the second-straight season. She was joined on the Preseason All-MAAC squad by: Meghan Carragher, Reagan Klarmann, Allie Kirby, and Elle Scott.
 
Fairfield reached double-digit wins for the second-straight season and for the third time under Head Coach David Barrett. The Stags finished second in the conference and advanced to the MAAC Championship match for the second time in the last three years.
 
Along with the 21 letterwinners returning, Fairfield will also bring in nine newcomers with seven freshmen and two transfers. Kendall Patten is a graduate transfer from Cornell who appeared in 41 matches and logged nearly 2700 minutes in the midfield for the Big Red. Lindsay Dewar brings collegiate experience from Lafayette where she appeared in 43 matches and made 148 career saves in net for the Leopards.
 
The Stags also return goalkeeper Katie Wright who appeared all 1800 minutes last season while compiling a 1.15 goals against average with 49 saves and seven shutouts.
 
Holy Cross is coming of a 5-7-5 season with a 2-4-3 mark in the Patriot League. The Crusaders return 21 players including nine student-athletes who started at least three matches last season.
 
Fairfield holds a 12-1-2 all-time record against Holy Cross including an 8-1 mark at Lessing Field.
 
The Stags will hit the road for the first time this season when they head to Central Connecticut State on Sunday night with a 7pm kickoff
 
Throughout the year, the Stags will also be raising money for Avery's Little Army, a charity started by the family of Avery Lafferty, a 12-year old girl who lost her fight with pediatric cancer earlier this year. The Stags will be donating five dollars per goal scored during the 2024 campaign.