FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Soccer team netted three goals from three different student-athletes with five different players recording a point as the Stags opened up Metro Conference play with a dominating 3-0 win over Rider on Saturday evening.
Payton Zaun led the way with a goal and an assist while
Amelie Stewart and
Brooke Kennedy also found the back of the net in the victory. The Stags fired a season-high 43 shots with 13 on target and 12 corner kicks.
"We were much more effective and dangerous going forward," Head Coach
David Barrett said. We're looking for some consistency game to game, individually and collectively but I'm certainly really happy to get our three points at home and start the conference season 1-0."
It took the Stags 41 minutes to net their first goal when
Bella Bingham crossed the ball to Stewart inside the box and her right-footed finish went past the keeper to put the home side up 1-0.
After that goal, the Stags found their dominance by taking 32 shots in the final 49 minutes including 28 in the second half alone.
The Stags doubled up the score when Kennedy headed in a corner kick from Zaun in the 72nd minute and completed their scoring when Zaun lined in a shot off a tapped cross from
Ashlyn Walsh to complete the 3-0 score.
In their dominant second half, out-shot Rider 28-1 with eight shots on goal and eight corner kicks. Rider recorded a pair of defensive saves from right off their goal line with their goalkeeper also stopping three shots.
Fifteen different Stags tallied at least one shot with Zaun and Walsh leading the team with seven apiece.
The victory marks the fifth-straight season the Stags have won their conference opener and they now hold a 21-1-3 regular season record in the conference since 2024.
Fairfield will have a week off before hosting Canisius on Lessing Field on Saturday at noon.
