FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After a brief two-game road trip, the Fairfield University men's soccer team will open its longest home stand of the season on Wednesday night. The Stags will host Columbia University at Lessing Field, beginning at 7 pm, to start a run of three home games that also includes their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener. The first 200 Fairfield students in attendance will receive a Stags beach towel.
In addition, the Fairfield University men's soccer team will be wearing green pregame jerseys on Wednesday and throughout September to bring attention to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Awareness Month. The goal of SCI Awareness Month is to educate the public about spinal cord injuries, promote preventative measures, and advocate for increased research to improve treatments and outcomes of those affected by SCI.
Fairfield has played even up through its first four games, owning a 2-2 mark that includes splitting a pair of home and a pair of road matches. In the last game, the team came up a goal short against Lafayette College, falling by a 2-1 count.
The Stags offense has clicked since the beginning of the season, scoring in three of their four games to date. Fairfield won both of its games in which is scored at least two goals with freshmen
Sean Albritton and
Alex Vaz playing key roles in the surge.
Both newcomers have two goals so far, each finding the back of the net in their first two outings.
Owen Drummond was the latest Stag to reach the scoring as he was responsible for the team's lone goal at Lafayette.
William Pierce, last year's top scorer, also has posted a goal this season.
Fairfield's defense yielded a pair of goals against Lafayette, the first time this season that the unit has surrendered more than a goal. Goalkeeper
Evan Chomow has been sharp between the posts thus far with one clean sheet already on his ledger. The freshman has 16 saves to his credit for a .800 save percentage, a number which places third among all MAAC goalkeepers. His 1.00 goals against average holds the same position within the conference.
Columbia will take to the pitch for the third time this season, holding an 0-1-1 record through its opening week. The Lions started with a one-goal setback against Lehigh University before playing Villanova University to a scoreless draw.
The team has used two different goalkeepers in the early season with Alexander O'Brien getting the nod in the season opener. Dean Keliher earned a start against Villanova, making three saves to earn the shutout.
Up front, Henning Myrvang scored the team's goal in the Lehigh match with Joe McDaid garnering the assist by setting up the scoring chance. The Lions are certainly capable of creating offensive opportunities as illustrated by their 28 shots through their first two outings including an 18-shot effort versus Lehigh.
Following the Columbia match, Fairfield will start conference play when it hosts Niagara University on Monday, September 15 beginning at 2 pm. The run of home games comes to an end on Saturday, September 20 when defending national champion University of Vermont comes to Lessing Field for a 6 pm match.
