FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team will host the Niagara Purple Eagles on Saturday at noon during Alumni and Family Weekend. The Stags, who are unbeaten in the conference with an 8-0-2 record will have a chance to clinch the MAAC Regular Season Championship for the second-straight season and the third time in the last four years with a win.
Overall, Fairfield brings a 13-1-2 record which includes five-straight victories. Fairfield's 13 wins are tied for the most in Division I and their .875 winning percentage ranks fourth in the country.
The Stags boast one of the nation's highest scoring offenses, averaging 2.7 goals per game which is in the top-10 in the country.
Maddy Theriault has been at the forefront of that offensive attack with a conference-best – and career-high tying – 13 goals which places her fourth among Division I student-athletes.
Fairfield's offense has been balanced with 13 different Stags scoring at least one goal and 15 recording at least one point. Sophomore
Ashlyn Walsh has also been a big playmaker for the squad with a team-best nine assists which ranks fifth in the nation.
The Stags notched their fifth-straight win with a 4-2 victory over Manhattan but had to do so in comeback fashion. Fairfield surrendered the opening goal just eight minutes into the match but responded with four unanswered goals from: Theriault,
Kayleigh Lukasik,
Brooke Walonis, and
Payton Zaun. It was the first time the Stags have trailed in a game in over two months (Rutgers – August 17).
Theriault and Zaun were honored with MAAC weekly awards taking home the Player and Rookie of the Week honors, respectively. The Stags have now earned seven weekly awards.
Niagara enters play with a 3-5-2 MAAC record after tying Rider 2-2 on Saturday. Caitlyn Gratton is the team leader with seven goals while Julia Poissant has started 13 matches in net with a 1.9 goals against average.
Fairfield will clinch their second-straight MAAC Regular Season Championship with a win or a Quinnipiac loss or tie. It will also be Fairfield's ninth in program history and their third in the last four years.
The Stags will close out the regular season with a road match at Merrimack on Wednesday at 7pm.
