FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer team will open the 2024 season on Friday night with a road trip to Monmouth University, the first of two road games that will greet the Stags in their new campaign. The match is slated for 7 pm start.
The match also represents the first for first-year Head Coach
Krystian Witkowski, who joined the Fairfield program after serving as an assistant coach at Northwestern University. Witkowski is well familiar with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as well, serving as an assistant coach as well as a student-athlete with the Marist College men's soccer program.
Witkowski will build upon the return of the Stags' top four scorers from a year ago, a group that was responsible for 14 of the team's 24 goals in 2023.
William Pierce led all Fairfield scorers with 13 points, nearly all of which came from his team-best six goals. He was also paced the team with a pair of game-winning goals, deciding the Brown and Saint Peter's matches.
Thomas Drillien returns after posting four goals and two assists for 10 points and already ranking among the program's all-time leaders with 12 goals. He begins the 2024 campaign as a member of the All-MAAC Preseason team.
Kaea Rangihaeata and
Alex Marin round out the top four scorers after registering a pair of goals and an assist each a year ago. One of Marin's goals won the match for the Stags, netting the team's lone goal in a 1-0 decision over Iona.
Sam Danner and
Tyler Reavis also had multi-goal seasons with a pair of goals each, lending further depth to the offensive set.
Along with the returning players upfront, the Stags will also see the return of several veterans players for the upcoming season.
Rasmus Sorensen Rejnhold missed most of last year but will be back in uniform this season with 10 career goals already on the board.
Joseph Stocchetti and
Alex Oliveira will be back as well, bolstering the middle third of the Stags lineup. Stocchetti contributed a goal and an assist while Oliveira added an assist to the team effort a year ago.
The back line has a group of returning players who figure to keep the opposition honest over the course of the year. Junior
Cody Read was recognized for his play last season with a spot on the All-MAAC third team as a defender.
Juan Pablo Leano,
Lenni Mierow, and
Kris Naicker will also lend their experience as returning defenders.
Viktor Nikolov comes back as the team's most experienced returning goalkeeper, seeing time in six matches in his inaugural season with the program. He finished the 2023 campaign with a 2.06 goals against average with 15 saves for an average of 2.5 stops per appearance.
Following the season opener against Monmouth, Fairfield will return to the pitch on Monday, August 26 for a 7 pm match up at FDU before making its home debut on Saturday, August 31 against Lafayette College. The match will be played at Lessing Field beginning at 7 pm.
