FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University swimming & diving team will host Fordham University on Friday, October 24 for their second home meet of the year. The meet is set for 5pm and will be held at the RecPlex Pool.
Fairfield vs. Fordham: The two teams last met on October 25, 2013 when the Stags fell to the Rams in Bronx, N.Y. The women’s team was edged 152-131 while the men’s team fell 160-121. Both the Fairfield men and women are 0-3 in the last three meetings with Fordham.
A Look at the Rams: Fordham swimming & diving will open their 2014-15 campaign at home on October 23 against Marist at 6pm. The Rams’ women’s team closed out the 2013-14 campaign owning a 7-4 record and placing second overall at the 2014 Atlantic 10 Championship while the men went 4-6 that year and placed seventh overall at the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Last Time Out: The swimming & diving team opened the 2014-15 season with a split against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponent Manhattan College on October 18 at the RecPlex Pool. The Fairfield women posted a 218-76 win over the Jaspers while the men were edged 156.5-141.5.
On the women’s side, senior Meredith LaBerge, and juniors Kelly Mulligan and Liz Avery recorded two individual victories apiece. LaBerge captured the 800m freestyle (9:43.71) and the 400m freestyle (4:45.49) while Mulligan finished first in the 100m backstroke (1:09.33) and the 200m backstroke (2:30.27). Avery captured the 50m freestyle (28.47) and the 100m freestyle (1:03.14) while freshman Sierra Weiner made a splash during her collegiate debut, recording individual victories in the 200m freestyle (2:10.14), the 100m butterfly (1:06.28), and the 200m IM (2:33.13). Senior diver Ashlee Steinberger captured both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for the women. Steinberger recorded a mark of 248.55, for a personal best, on the 1-meter and a score of 249.60 on the 3-meter. The runner-up for both boards was classmate Lauren Kemple, who had a 1-meter score of 195.60 and a 3-meter mark of 210.90.
On the men’s side, junior Connor Daly posted three individual victories. Daly captured the 200m butterfly (2:10.80), the 200m breaststroke (2:30.06), and the 200m IM (2:13.70). Classmate Andrew Robinson posted two individual victories, placing first in the 800m freestyle (9:13.43) and the 400m freestyle (4:26.33). Freshmen Michael Capodanno and Collin Hayes made splashes in their collegiate debuts recording a relay win. Capodanno swam the third leg and Hayes anchored in the 200m freestyle relay which recorded a winning time of 1:40.15. Senior diver Evan Barr and sophomore diver Daniel Pires tied for first place on the 3-meter board, scoring 269.40 apiece, while Pires took the top spot on the 1-meter board with a mark of 262.58.
Weekly Winner: Senior Ashlee Steinberger was named MAAC Female Diver of the Week after capturing both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards for the women in the home opening win over Manhattan on October 18 at the RecPlex Pool. Steinberger recorded a first place mark of 248.55, for a personal best, on the 1-meter event and posted a winning score of 249.60 on the 3-meter event. The honor is Steinberger’s fifth of her career and first this season.
Looking Ahead: After Friday’s competition, Fairfield will make another splash in the RecPlex Pool on Saturday, October 25 at the Stags’ Alumni Meet. The meet is set for 12pm. Fairfield will then take action on the road, traveling to Worcester, Mass. to compete against Holy Cross on November 1.
