As the basketball season begins and the excitement grows about the men’s and women’s teams, both of which were selected second in the Metro Athletic Atlantic Conference (MAAC) pre-season poll, the fall sports may unfortunely be ignored.

But this weekend the women’s soccer team, along with their male counterparts and the women’s volleyball team, showed that although hoops may be upon us, it’s not yet time to wrap up the fall sports season.

The women’s soccer team made a thrilling run through the MAAC Tournament, defeating Siena in penalty kicks 5-4, after a 0-0 tie through regulation and two overtimes, and then knocking off No.1 Loyola in the championship game.

Meanwhile the men’s soccer team picked up two wins at home over Marist and Siena to earn a berth in the MAAC Tournament, a possibility that seemed unlikely two weeks ago. On campus, the volleyball team won two matches, including a major victory over rival Siena to take over sole possession of first place in the conference with a 14-2 record.

However, it is the women’s soccer team that will go down as one of the best varsity athletics teams in Fairfield’s history. The senior class is no stranger to winning championships, as they also did it in 2005 as freshmen. Ahna Johnson is ranked with the best players in Stags history and the younger players on the team have the opportunity to join her, if the past success of players like Nicole Cavallaro ’11 and Casey Frobey ’10 is any indication of how they will finish their careers.

The win brings back memories from two years ago, when the men’s soccer team won the MAAC Championship and went on to the NCAA Tournament. Despite being a major underdog, the Stags knocked off in-state rival UConn in Storrs, Conn., the home of the Huskies. Now Oklahoma State stands in the way of the second NCAA’ Tournament victory in Fairfield athletics history. Johnson, head coach Jim O’Brien and the rest of the women’s soccer squad have written their names down in the history books for a second time in their careers. Now, a win in Piscataway, N.J. this weekend will make them a team that will be remembered forever.

The team has an undeniable chemistry, and the senior class has been through much in its four years at Fairfield. With the experience they gained in 2005, the Stags hope to secure a miraculous victory over Oklahoma State and return to Fairfield with yet another accomplishment.

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