NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team found their scoring foot, leading to six goals in a convincing 6-2 victory over second-seeded Niagara and earning them a spot in the Metro Conference Championship Match.
Kelly O'Connor led a quintet of goal scorers with a pair of second half tallies as part of her career-high six-point performance. The Stags also enjoyed goals from:
Brooke Kennedy,
Amelie Stewart,
Bella Bingham, and
Anya Moser sending them to their 14th conference championship match and third in the last four seasons.
"I think it speaks to our mindset that we had tonight," Head Coach
David Barrett said. "We wanted to be on our front foot. We came up here a month ago and really played not our best by any means. We were just really determined to set that right."
The six goals scored were the most in a Metro Conference Semifinal match since the Stags netted seven in a victory over Manhattan in 1998.
The Stags' offensive pressure was apparent from the very beginning as they put five shots on frame in the first 14 minutes.
Fairfield was able to break through in the 19th minute when
Payton Zaun floated a corner kick to the far post that Kennedy was able to get her head on and finish past the keeper to open the scoring.
That lead lasted just two minutes, however, as Niagara was able to find the early equalizer on a Caitlyn Gratton goal.
Fairfield's leading scorer, Stewart broke that tie with a long-range goal that soared over the defenders and into the back of the post in the 43rd minute.
The Stags extended that advantage with a back-breaking score from Bingham with just six seconds left in the half to put the Stags up 3-1.
"I thought it was just a really terrific all-around performance from the team," Coach Barrett said. "We changed our lineup. We changed our philosophy. We needed to do something different. We felt we would catch them out a little bit and I think it was effective that Kelly was terrific tonight. I thought we pressed really well. We had really good commitment from the team."
O'Connor gave the even more breathing room with a pure hustle play as she raced up the pitch, beating the defender and finishing off her own rebounded shot to put the score at 4-1.
After Niagara cut the lead in half at 4-2, the Stags would thwart any thoughts of a comeback with O'Connor's diving header leading to a goal in the 80th minute and Moser capping the scoring with a one-timer in the 86th.
"On all aspects of it just really proud of the other girls," Coach Barrett said. "I mean the last time we came up here it was a pretty disappointing result so to come out and we honestly could've had 10 goals tonight. We we missed a lot of other opportunities as well, but it was a really great performance really excited for Sunday to see where we go."
Seven different Stags recorded a point in the victory led by six from O'Connor with two goals and two assists. Zaun, Bingham, and
Charlyse Berry also picked up helpers.
The Stags will now advance to the Metro Championship Match – their 14th conference final – and will take on in-state rivals Quinnipiac on the road on Sunday at 1pm.
