FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer will close out the home portion of its regular-season schedule on Wednesday night when it hosts Quinnipiac University at Lessing Field. Game time is 7 pm.
The Stags are riding a six-game unbeaten streak that includes three wins and three draws, including the team's 2-0 win over Mount St. Mary's last Saturday night. Fairfield has posted back-to-back shutouts and has not allowed more than a goal since the University of Vermont match on September 20.
Viktor Nikolov has been in the Fairfield goal for the last three matches including the two clean sheets. The senior, who earned the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, owns a 0.33 goals against average with an .833 save percentage. On the subject of weekly honors, freshman
Pipeloore Olanrewaju garnered the MAAC Rookie of the Week award after scoring one of the two goals in the Mount St. Mary's win, his fourth goal of the season.
Olanrewaju has joined
Sean Albritton and
Alex Vaz to give Fairfield one of the more formidable freshmen classes in the MAAC as the trio has combined for 14 of the team's 22 goals this season. All three rank among the top 10 MAAC goal scorers with Albritton and Vaz tied for sixth and Olanrewaju placing ninth.
While the freshmen trio is scoring goals, midfielder
Cameron Gerber continues to set up his teammates. The junior currently leads the MAAC and is tied for 18
th in the nation with his seven assists (0.50 assists per game).
Quinnipiac University comes into this Wednesday's match with a 5-8-1 overall record and a 3-4-0 mark in MAAC play. The Bobcats handed Siena College its first conference loss this year with a 1-0 decision on October 25. Alex Miller posted the deciding goal in the 52
nd minute, his second goal of the season.
Sivert Ryssdalsnes paces the Quinnipiac offense with six goals and four assists for 16 points, averaging better than a point per game. William Holum places second among his teammates with seven points off three goals and one assist. The Bobcats have used three goalkeepers this season with Matthew Pisani getting the start in the Siena match. He made six saves to record the shutout, his first and the team's third this season.
Following Wednesday night's match, the Stags will conclude the regular season with a trip to Sacred Heart on November 5 beginning at 7 pm. Fairfield currently stands tied for second in the MAAC standings with the top six teams getting a bid to the conference championship which begins on November 9.