FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Quick strikes and stifling defense were the proper combination for the Fairfield University men's soccer team today as the Stags advanced to the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinals with a 4-1 win over Niagara University at Lessing Field.

"I am very happy with the performance especially scoring four goals at home in a quarterfinal," Head Coach Krystian Witkowski said. "Credit Niagara because they make it very difficult to play against them. But I think we were firing on all cylinders from an attacking stand point. This was a total team effort with everyone getting a chance to contribute today."

The Stags never left this first-round match in question as the team came out swarming inside the Niagara box, earning four shots in the first 11 minutes. But it was the next four minutes that determined the outcome of today's game, beginning with a brilliant run from Kaea Rangihaeata.

The senior brought the ball down the right side and sent a ball that seemed destined for Sean Albritton. A Niagara defender did his best to shield Abritton from the cross but in doing so redirected the ball into his own net, spotting a one-goal edge to the Stags.

Albritton would still have his day and wouldn't have to wait long for it to happen. Four minutes after the own goal, Illia Tyrkus created the chance with long ball that found Albritton open just outside the box. The freshman finished the play with his eighth goal of the season and third in the last two games.

Still not satisfied, the Stags offense continued to push forward and forced more opportunities in the next five minutes. In the 23^rd minute, Marquis Nana-Sinkham sent a shot from distance that required attention from the goalkeeper.

As Niagara tried to regroup after the attack, Massimo Murania collected the ball just outside the box and chipped a past to William Pierce. The senior  completed the play with a shot that caught the corner for a 3-0 lead just 24 minutes into the match.

Fairfield doubled up Niagara offensively, posting 10 shots to the Purple Eagles five attempts. Niagara made the most of those shots, forcing Fairfield goalkeeper Evan Chomow to make three saves through 45 minutes of play.

The Stags tacked on one more goal to its total when William Pierce sent the ball forward where Tyrkus was able to gather it and release a shot that landed just inside the far post to push the score to 4-0 in the 56^th minute.

Niagara upended Fairfield's bid for the clean sheet when Landon Hungerford was able to come away with the ball at the top of the box and bend a shot in the upper corner of the goal to bring the score to 4-1 with 25 minutes remaining in the match.

Chomow finished the afternoon with six saves for the Stags while his counterpart Grant Wyles made three stops for the Purple Eagles.

The win will set up another meeting with top-seeded Sacred Heart University on Thursday, November 13 on the Pioneers campus. The match is slated for a 6 pm start.