No one wants to throw a party and not be invited. Yet it appears the Fairfield University women’s soccer team will be doing just that, as the Stags were unable to qualify for the 2004 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament despite hosting the event this week at Lessing Field.
Even though they were ranked second in the MAAC preseason poll, the Stags started off their season on the wrong foot, as a seven-game losing streak brought their record to 1-8 before conference play began. The team showed steady improvement over the second half of the season, registering a number of key conference wins to run their record to 5-13-1 overall and 4-4-1 in the MAAC.
Midfielder Janna Breitenwischer ’08 and her electrifying offensive skills propelled the Stags during the season’s second half, scoring game-winning goals against Manhattan and Canisius, as well as tallying another in a tough win against Niagara.
“Janna has a lot of different qualities that make her the special player she is,” Head Coach Maria Piechocki said.
While Piechocki had hoped to earn a spot in the tournament, she was happy with how the team progressed throughout the season.
“We showed improvement, and we were competitive as a young team,” she said.
The loss of the soccer class of 2005 will not be a pleasant one, as seniors Jennifer Chapla and Erin Holland played their final minutes for Fairfield. The most sorely missed, however, will be Meghan King ’05. King ranks among the Stags’ career leaders in points, goals and game winning goals. Her leadership will be difficult to replace.
Piechocki will be able to rest a bit easier during the off-season, knowing that the core of her team will be returning next fall. Freshmen and sophomores played the majority of minutes this season, which gives the Stags a very positive outlook for next season.
When asked which players she feels will step up next season and help Fairfield improve upon this season’s disappointing 5-13-1 record, Piechocki targeted freshman defenders Nikki Zoller and MT Church, midfielders Jen Schmitt and Amanda Vargo and goalkeeper Brett Maron.
“The core of freshman and sophomore players is the foundation for next years team,” she said.
While it may be difficult to be in the stands, watching the tournament from the sidelines, the Stags can at least remain positive about one thing: With a great freshman class and a solid core of sophomore players, the future looks very bright for the Stags next season.
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