They may not be going to Disney World, but the men’s hockey team is more than happy to be heading to Rochester, Minn., for its first appearance in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) national tournament.
The Stags made history over the weekend when they defeated Penn State Delco and Fredonia State to win the ACHA Atlantic Regional Tournament. The win automatically gave Fairfield a berth to ACHA D-III national championship.
“I think the results are an indication of the way we prepared,” said Head Coach Marshall Richards ’82. “We played as a team; we had guys that didn’t play and/or didn’t dress who were an integral part of our success.”
Fairfield stormed through its first game, dominating Penn State Delco, 9-0. But the Stags faced a challenge against Fredonia State for the regional championship.
But with three minutes remaining, Ben Welch ’08 scored the game winner, his 20th goal of the season, to send the Stags to nationals.
“To have Benny Welch, one of the most vocal people in the locker room go out and score the game-winning goal to send us to nationals was definitely a big morale booster for the team,” said Kevin Curtis ’10.
However, Welch was humble about his success.
“Everyone played really well; it just felt good to finally have some meaning to the season,” he said.
This finish comes after Fairfield’s season had a bumpy start.
“This year, with the games we had to forfeit and the people who quit and a lot of people got sick – we didn’t want our season to end there,” said Curtis.
But leadership from senior co-captains Justin Eisner and Welch helped motivate the team through the second half of the season.
But, with the berth to nationals, the Stags have a lot of work in front of them.
“We’re going to play Hope College [in the] first round,” said Welch. “They come from a state that lives and breathes hockey. I think, if we win that first game, we could go all the way.”
The national tournament combines the 16 best teams from four regions. Each team has a guarantee of three games, but must win five total games to be crowned champions.
The Stags will face the north region’s No. 1-seeded Hope College in the first round of play.
“Our goal was to get there,” said Marshall. “But we will not settle. Our objective now is to lead Fairfield University to a national championship.”
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