FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Maddy Theriault recorded her first career hat trick and tied a Lessing Field record with seven points as the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team won their home opener with a 4-1 victory over Vermont. The win was Fairfield's 17th-straight on their home field, extending the longest active streak in the nation.
 
"I thought the first half was somewhat lackluster but we challenged them at halftime to come out and demonstrate the abilities that we have," Head Coach David Barrett said. "I think we did that in the first five minutes and put the game to bed quickly in the second half. There's still plenty of things that we need to get better and work on."
 
Theriault scored her goals in the 13th, 18th, and 48th minutes while combining with Payton Zaun to set up an Ashlyn Walsh goal in the 46th. The three goals marks the first time in her career she has recorded a hat trick and the seventh time she has netted multiple scores. She has had a hand in all seven of Fairfield's goals this season with five goals and two assists.
 
She has now reached 36 goals in her career, tying her for second on the program's all-time list with Pamela Cluff '01. She has netted the game-winner in all of Fairfield's three victories, bringing her career total to 14 and one shy of tying Abby Allan for the program's all-time mark. Finally, her 91 career points moves her to third in the program record books.
 
In her first game on Lessing Field, Payton Zaun recorded two assists on back-to-back scores that put the Stags up 3-0.
 
The Stags out-shot the Catamounts 20-8 with Vermont's lone goal coming on a penalty kick in the 51st minute.
 
Fairfield has now won 17-straight matches on Lessing Field, the longest active streak in the country.
 
The Stags are back in action on their home pitch when they take on Harvard on Friday at 6pm.