Fairfield University Athletics

2020-21 Season: Kelly Buckley capped her 2020-21 season by becoming the second Stag in program history to earn All-America honors from the NFHCA. She was placed on the organization’s All-America third team after her performance on the pitch. Buckley also secured her second consecutive NEC Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being placed on the organization’s All-Conference team. She scored both of her goals on the season in the team’s 5-0 decision Sacred Heart in the regular-season finale, netting the team’s final two scores of the game.

2019 Season: Kelly Buckley was designated the NEC Defensive Player of the Year following her performance during the conference season. She also secured a spot on the All-NEC first team, one of four Stags to garner the accolade. The defender helped Fairfield become the best defense in the NEC, allowing a season-low 1.15 goals per conference game. She also was part of a unit that finished 10^th in the nation for goals against average (1.16) and shutouts per game (0.23). Buckley was a factor inside the circle as well, registering six points off two goals and two assists. She netted both of her goals in the team’s 3-1 victory against Merrimack including the game winner. Buckley added an assist to her total in a win over Saint Francis as well as a victory against Rider.

2018 Season: Buckley served as one of the team’s most dependable defenders in 2018, collecting a start in all 21 of the team’s games in the back third. As a defender, Buckley helped Fairfield’s defense allow one goal or less in11 of the team’s 21 games which includes seven shutouts. She was also an asset inside the circle offensively by picking one assist in the season opener, a 3-1 win over Lafayette. She took five shots during the season including two against Lafayette and one more in the next game which resulted in a 3-1 win.

2017: Played in 11 games on the season.

Before Fairfield: Kelly Buckley was a defender at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, New York where she was a scholar athlete for all four years and also a Section 2 All-Star in both 2015 and 2016.  In her senior year, her team capped off a perfect 21-0 season with a state championship. Buckley was named Times Union Player of the Year for her play at Shenendehowa.  Her sister Erin was MAAC co-Defensive Player of the Year for the 2017 MAAC Champion Stags.