Women’s soccer cruises in first two league games

For the Fairfield women’s soccer team, it was double the domination last weekend in New Jersey and New York.

Fairfield’s 6 – 0 victory over St. Peter’s Friday night in Jersey City was their first MAAC win of the season.

Sunday, the Stags came out strong once again and shot past Manhattan in overtime for a 1-0 win.

“Our defense has been playing really well,” said Fairfield goalkeeper Brett Maron ’08, who attained her fourth and fifth shutouts this season.

“They are not letting shots get off and the shots that do get off, they are getting in front of before I even see it,” she said. “They are really stepping up.”

Fairfield held both St. Peter’s and Manhattan to a total of only five shots on goal the entire weekend.

“The entire team contributed,” said Head Coach Jim O’Brien, who achieved consecutive victories for the first time during his tenure. “A lot of players stepped up and did well.”

Forward Shannon Helm ’06 was one of those players Friday night versus St. Peter’s. Helm scored the first, and what turned out to be the deciding, goal of the game five minutes into the contest.

The Stags would score four more times during the first half, with Helm assisting on two of the goals.

On Sunday, midfielder Jackie Thomson ’08 came up big in overtime by putting the ball past Manhattan goalkeeper Alicia DeFino for the victory.

With the two victories, the Stags improved to 5-4-1 for the season and and are currently 2-1 in MAAC play.

Fairfield looks to continue its winning ways in conference play when it hosts Rider tomorrow night at home. The game will be held at Lessing Field at 7 p.m.