The Fairfield University women’s soccer team (8-4-3) had a week to remember as they finished up regular season play. It started with a home game on Wednesday, October 23, 2019. The Stags won by a score of eight to one that ties a record that was set back in 2014 for most goals scored in a game on Lessing Field. In addition, Wednesday’s game was the team’s Senior Night, which honored the women on the team who are a part of the Class of 2020.
The Stags’ aggressive game play started right away, as they had four shots in the first ten minutes, followed by an Iona goal that gave the Gaels a one goal lead. About a minute and a half later, 11 minutes and 50 seconds into the game, Liz Dumas ‘21 found the back of the net for her seventh goal of the season with the help of Nicole Stryjek ‘21, increasing the Stags lead. The third and fourth goals were both scored by Melanie Hingher ‘20, marking her first and second goals for the season. With just about 15 minutes left in the half, Gabby Diodati ‘21 scored her second goal of the season unassisted, which would lead the Stags into halftime with a 5-0 lead.
Iona’s Amber Crispin was able to get one shot past sophomore goalie Aytana Muschajew early in the second, half decreasing the Stags lead to four goals. Stryjek kept the Stags rolling, scoring the sixth and seventh team goals in the game. Fairfield’s eighth and final goal came from first-year Allie Landino with the assist from Brooke Hernon ‘22, which would be Landino’s first career goal as a Stag.
Defensively, Fairfield was led by rookie goalkeeper Gena Pike who played in the first half and Muschajew who finished out the game. Helping out the goalkeepers were Olivia Homan ‘23 and Josie Horosky ‘23. Offensively, Fairfield was led by their six scorers as well as Hernon, Stephanie Tsangaris ‘22 and Julia McGuire ‘20. The Stags outshot Iona 25-7 in the 8-1 win.
Was this the outcome that Fairfield was expecting, to win by seven goals? “We were expecting to win and we wanted to play well…I didn’t know we were going to get eight, but we wanted to play well,” said Coach David Barret in regards to the win. The players were equally as surprised, as Melanie Hingher said, “We expected to come out hard, play for our seniors, and play for each other, but didn’t expect it to be this good of a result.”
Good results continued to come Fairfield’s way on Saturday, Oct. 26, when they took down Siena College (4-9-4) on the Saints home field. With goals from Hernon, Tsangaris, Diodati and McGuire, the Stags defeated Siena 4-1. Outshooting the Saints only by 2, the Stags had to keep up aggressive game play throughout the entire game. Pike had three saves on the day, keeping the Saints to only one goal.
With Wednesday’s win, Fairfield has clinched a spot in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament and will host a game on their own turf. The team is now 10-4-3 on the season and will face off against Monmouth University (11-2-2) in Long Branch, NJ for their last regular season game on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
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