FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's soccer team will open a four-match road trip on Wednesday afternoon when the Stags travel to LIU. It marks the team's first road game since taking on Monmouth University and FDU to open the 2024 season.

The Stags are coming off a two-game home stand that saw their offense continue to emerge as one of the best in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. In its one-goal loss to Stonehill College last Saturday, Fairfield posted two more goals to raise the team's total to seven over the last three games. The team places third among MAAC programs with a 1.75 goals per game average, just off second-place Canisius University's 1.80 goals per game. The seven-goal effort is the most that the Stags have posted in three consecutive games since netting 10 goals last season which included a 6-0 win over Brown University.

Six different Fairfield student-athletes account for the team's scoring offense led by freshman Devin Zachry's two goals. Zachry, who earned MAAC Offensive and Rookie of the Week honors on September 2, posted a goal in consecutive games against Lafayette College and FDU to account for his four points. Owen Drummond is tied with Zachry for the team lead with four points, registering a goal and a team-best two assists in his four appearances. William Pierce and Asher Rosen became the latest two Stags to join the scoring attack, each collecting a goal in the team's match up with Stonehill. 

Kyle Briere made his Fairfield debut in the Stonehill match, tagging into the game for the second half. A transfer from UConn, Briere allowed one goal while making one save in his first appearance. Viktor Nikolov started the first four matches and posted 13 saves in those appearances including season-best seven stops in the Lafayette match. He currently ranks eighth among MAAC goalkeepers with his 3.25 saves per match.

LIU will play its sixth match of the campaign when it hosts the Stags, checking into the contest with a 2-2-1 overall record. The Sharks won their first two matches of the season against Stony Brook University (2-1) and the University at Albany (1-0) before playing UConn to a 0-0 draw. In its last outing, LIU came up a goal short against MAAC foe Manhattan University as the Jaspers jumped out to a 2-0 lead for Niklas Thanhofer posted the Sharks' lone goal in the 81st minute.

Stephane Njike represents the team's top scorer with a pair of goals and an assist for five points which includes the deciding goal in the Stony Brook win and the team's lone goal against UMass Lowell. Teammate Jesper Mikkelsen also has a game-winning goal to his credit, helping decide the match with Albany on August 25. 

Goalkeeper Eoin Gawronski has started all five of the Sharks' five matches and accumulated 450 minutes over that stretch. He owns a 1.20 goals against average, bolstered by back-to-back clean sheets against Albany and UConn. He has allowed six goals while making 18 saves, giving the keeper a .750 save percentage.

Fairfield's road trip will continue after the LIU match as it sends the Stags to the University of Vermont on September 14, Columbia University on September 18, and the UConn on September 24.