FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer team returns to the pitch on Wednesday night against Columbia University, a continuation of the program's four-game road trip that started last week. The Stags have already completed a pair of away games against LIU and the University of Vermont with UConn still on the trip's docket.
The Stags opened the road trip with a 2-1 setback against LIU, holding a 1-0 lead before seeing the Sharks spark a second-half comeback. Fairfield also dropped a decision at Vermont last Saturday, the team's most recent outing. Now, the team will focus on its first Ivy League opponent when it heads to New York City for a match up with the Lions.
Thomas Drillien and
Devin Zachry are the top two goal scorers for the Stags, each posting a pair of goals through the first six matches of 2024. Drillien picked up his second goal in the LIU game which along with his one assist sits him atop of the Fairfield scoring leaders with five points. Zachry is next in line with four points, posting a goal against FDU and Lafayette College.
Goalkeeper
Viktor Nikolov has spent a majority of the minutes between the posts for Fairfield, playing in all but 45 minutes through six matches. He has three matches with four or more saves including a season-high seven stops in the Lafayette game, helping the junior collect 19 saves on the season.
Columbia enters Wednesday's match looking for its first win of the season, having been shutout in each of its first four matches. Jack McDaid and Luka Peric have been the primary threats up front so far, leading the team with six and five shots taken respectively. The team has certainly created challenges for the opposition, averaging nine shots per outing, and putting a good portion of those attempts on target.
The defense has not allowed more than two goals in any of its four dates this season, allowing 1.50 goals per match to this point. The Lions have three student-athletes who have held down the goalkeeping position this season with Dean Kelliher and Andreas Zamanian each pacing the team with 135 minutes played. Zamanian owns a 0.67 goals against average with three saves to his credit while Kelliher owns a 2.67 goals against average with four saves on the ledger. Alexander O'Brien also has one game under his belt, allowing one goal and making two saves in his 90 minutes of work this season.
Following the Columbia contest, Fairfield will head to UConn next Tuesday for a 7 pm match with the Huskies. After that game, the Stags will return home for the first time in over two weeks when they host Marist College on Saturday, September 28 at Lessing Field. The match is slated for a 7 pm start.
