FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer team will host ninth-ranked and defending NCAA champion University of Vermont on Saturday night at Lessing Field. The Stags and the Catamounts will kick off their match at 6 pm. The game will complete a soccer doubleheader at Lessing Field with the women hosting Sacred Heart University at 1 pm.

For the second straight season, Head Coach Krystian Witkowski will lead his team into a match up with a nationally-ranked foe. The Stags played 24^th-ranked UConn to a scoreless draw on the road a year ago. Fairfield will look for its first win over a nationally-ranked team since the 2018 campaign when the team edged ninth-ranked UNCW by a 2-1 count on the road.

Fairfield comes off a 2-0 win over Niagara University on Monday, the Stags' first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) match of the season. Newcomer Pipeloore Olanrewaju was responsible for both goals, finding the back of the net in the 41^st and 45^th minutes. The goals were the first of his collegiate career and place him in a three-way tie for second on the team's scoring list with four points.

Seven of the team's nine goals have been tallied by freshmen with Alex Vaz pacing the class with three goals. Sean Albrittoin and Olanrewaju are just behind Vax with two goals each.  On the defensive side of the pitch, freshman goalkeeper Evan Chomow earned his second shutout of the season against the Purple Eagles, a result which lowered his season ERA to 0.83. The goalkeeper places third in the MAAC for both goals against average as well as save percentage (.833).

Vermont remains unbeaten in the 2025 season, posting a 5-0-3 mark to this point. The Catamounts picked up wins in each of its last two outings, edging third-ranked University of Akron by a 1-0 count as well as Hofstra University by a 2-1 margin. The team will be playing its third road game of the season, posting an 0-0-2 mark in its previous matches off campus.

Niels Hartman provided the game-winning goal in the Hofstra match, beating the goalkeeper in the 84^th minute to secure the decision. Against Akron, David Ismail tallied the game's lone goal in the 48^th minute, his second of the season. Maximilian Kissel represents the team's top scorer this season with four goals and three assists for 11 points. Philipp Kuhn places second among his teammates with three goals and an assist for seven points followed by Ismail's two goals and assist for five points.

Niklas Herceg has played all 720 minutes in the Catamounts goal, sporting a 0.88 goals against average with a .750 save percentage. He has registered 21 saves in eight games, averaging 2.6 stops per contest.

The Vermont game also will serve as Camp Reunion Day where all Fairfield boys soccer camp attendees will receive a free ticket with the purchase of one Youth ticket. And, this match will be a "school spirit" event for all FYE students.

The Fairfield University men's soccer team will return to MAAC play next week, playing its first conference road game of the 2025 season. The Stags will make their way to Siena College on Saturday, September 27 for a 3 pm match.