FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team will compete in the Metro Conference Semifinals when they embark on their road trip to second-seeded Niagara for a Thursday night contest at 6pm. This is Fairfield's sixth-straight appearance in the conference semifinals as they try to advance to the championship game for the third time in the last four seasons.
Fairfield's Quarterfinal contest was one of their most exciting matches of the season as they took down Marist in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in regulation.
Kaitlyn McQueeney came off the bench to provide the deciding tally in penalties, beating the Red Foxes' goalkeeper to the left.
Marilyn Dixon also came off the bench to pick up the victory in penalty kicks, stopping two shots in the shootout.
The Stags jumped out to a 2-0 lead after goals from
Ella Pisani in the sixth minute and
Amelie Stewart in the 47th. For Stewart, her tally brought her into the team lead with nine scores on the season.
Marist was able to equalize the match with two goals in the final 30 minutes of regulation.
Alyssa Gluting kept the Stags alive with a point-blank save on a 2v1 opportunity in the 75th minute. The junior also picked up a key diving save in the first overtime setting up for the shootout dramatics.
Throughout their 19 matches, the Stags have continued to be the best offense in the conference and one of the most consistent in the nation. Fairfield leads the Metro in: points (137), goals (47), and assists (43) all which rank in the top-20 in Division I.
The Stags lead all teams in shots per game (21.8) and trail only Purdue in shots on goal per match (9.32).
Individually, Zaun is the conference leader with 10 assist which places her 12th in the nation. She also ranks fourth in the league with 26 points which is in the top-50 in the country.
Zaun was one of a conference-best seven Stags named to an All-Metro team and one of three earning First Team honors. The only unanimous selection, she was joined by
Amelie Stewart and
Brooke Walonis on the First Team.
Brooke Kennedy and
Ashlyn Walsh picked up spots on the Second Team while
Cassidy Clinton and
Ashley McMahon rounded out the group with Third Team accolades.
Niagara earned the two-seed in the championship after compiling an 11-3-2 overall record in the regular season which included an 8-2-2 mark in the conference. Caitlyn Gratton is the team leader with 33 points on 15 goals.
The winner of this match will advance to the Metro Championship Game on Sunday afternoon against the winner of No. 1 Quinnipiac and No. 4 Siena.
