FAIRFIELD, Conn. – As many will regret the end of summer over the next few weeks, there is a group of soccer student-athletes who welcome the change in season. The Fairfield University men's soccer team will make the transition from preseason to the regular season this week when it travels to Army West Point for the 2025 opener on Thursday afternoon.

Head Coach Krystian Witkowski spearheads that excitement as he brings forth a collection of student-athletes that will certainly face a formidable schedule that begins with Army. The 2025 campaign will feature a slate of six non-conference opponents that includes defending national champion University of Vermont. The Catamounts will come to Lessing Field on Saturday, September 20, one of nine home dates for the Stags.

"We have a tough schedule especially with many of our opponents picking up quality recruits," Witkowski said. "I am grateful that we are not traveling as much as we did last year which I think will benefit our guys in the long term. And at the same time, conference is coming earlier that it has previously and we always have an eye on the MAAC. It's a schedule that will showcase what we need to do in order to be prepared for conference play."

Witkowski and his staff have done their good deed in enhancing the Stags' roster with the addition of 18 newcomers. When you blend the talent of those newcomers with the likes of a veteran group, one can see why the excitement is building on the Fairfield campus.

"I am very proud of how the group has welcomed the newcomers," Witkowski said. "It feels like the group is coming together even earlier than I expected which is a great feeling. They are all very supportive of each other which is what any coach likes to see. I think we have some new attacking dimensions that we have not had previously. I think the preseason showcased some things that show we have good potential as well as some things that still need some work."

The Stags return their top scorer from the 2024 campaign, namely midfielder William Pierce who garnered a spot on the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason team. Pierce posted five goals and three assists for 15 points a year ago including a game-winner against Columbia. Cody Read will be back on the pitch after serving as one of the team's top set-up men, dishing off three assists through his 17 appearances. Jordan Blunschi (two goals) and Owen Drummond (one goal, two assists) were also in the mix offensively with four points each.

Viktor Nikolov served as the primary goalkeeper in 2024, making 70 saves over his 17 appearances. He owned three clean sheets with a 2.05 goals against average, yielding one goal or less in seven of his final 11 games on the pitch. Kyle Briere was also between the posts in 2024, earning a 1.48 goals against average with three saves in two appearances.

Army West Point returns all but one of its regular starters from the 2024 season as it begins its fifth season under Head Coach Brian Plotkin. Jack Meyer will be back to serve his team as captain after starting 10 of his 12 appearances last season. Ronald Zhai represents one of the team's top scorers from a year ago, contributing four goals and two assists for 10 points. Blair Camargo handled the goalkeeper duties in 2024 with 13 starts, posting a 1.72 goals against average with 38 saves.

Fairfield will open the home portion its schedule on Monday, August 25 when it welcomes Monmouth University to Lessing Field. During the month of August, admission is free for all fans to Fairfield University soccer games. All games after August 31 will require a ticket for admission. Fairfield University students receive free admission to all home games.To purchase tickets for games after August 31, visit Fairfieldstags.com/TIX.