The 2024 Fairfield University Women’s Soccer team’s season has been one of good energy and trust in the talents that lie within the starting XI for every match. So far, this trust has been paying off. Riding high off earning a MAAC Regular Season title and the top seed of the tournament, the Stags did not falter in their quarterfinal match against cross-town rivals: the Sacred Heart Pioneers.
Formidable defense is a common occurrence in tournament soccer, and both teams had defensive outings to brag about. Fairfield’s back line, consisting of Sam Erickson ‘25; Meghan Carragher ‘26; and graduate students Caroline Kelly and Kendall Patten, held the Pioneers to just one shot along the game’s entirety.
When asked about their performance, Erickson noted the chemistry of the line, “Honestly our back line just works so well together as we have been playing together for some time now; the four of us combined have a lot of athleticism, skills, and speed that makes it hard for any offense to get past us.”
Athleticism was undoubtedly the defining factor of the game, as the Stags sent 18 shots with 10 on target during the first half of play. Against a goalie they’ve struggled against before, the Stags were determined to break that wall. At halftime, head coach David Barret reset the offense with some advice.
According to Erickson, “We knew we were the better team, but at halftime, our coach made an emphasis on taking better shots and not forcing it which led us to capitalize on a throw-in.” Capitalize they did, as a long toss from graduate midfielder Allie Kirby landed perfectly next to Raegan Klarmann ‘25, who sent the ball crashing into the back of Sacred Heart’s net at 57 minutes on the clock.
Compatibility on and off the field is something that makes this team special. On the popular social media app, TikTok, the team’s bond is frequently seen on the students’ main feed. When asked about team morale and the TikToks, Erickson testified to the bond among the squad, “The TikToks only show a glimpse of what it’s like but I can truly say that we are all sisters. There’s so much love, support and competition within the team. Along with going through adversities together, the team bond is the strongest it has ever been this year… and it is a priority in our team culture to keep it that way.”
Looking ahead, the team is not frightened by the gravity of the matches that lie ahead. “We are going to handle this game just like any other match. We all work on keeping the mindset of going into every game like it is a championship,” Erickson emphasized. As Coach Barret says, “Survive and advance.”
The camaraderie and skill of this team will be on display during their next match, with some key players to look out for. Recent MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Maddy Theriault put up 12 goals during the regular season as a forward. She received the MAAC Golden Boot Award for the season and was unanimously selected for the All-MAAC First Team. Along with Theriault on the First Team is Klarmann, Sam Kersey ‘26, Kelly and Carragher.
Goalkeeper Kaite Wright was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for her three saves in their regular-season winning match against Quinnipiac. She ranks fifth in the MAAC with a 0.914 goals-against average, a career-high. Graduate forward Elle Scott was selected to the All-MAAC Second Team, while the duo of forward Ashlyn Walsh ‘28 and Kirby earned Third Team honors.
The Stags will host Manhattan College this Thursday at 7 p.m at Lessing Field. The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
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