Stags Continue Home Stand With a Pair of Matches

The longest home stand in program history continues as the Fairfield women’s soccer team will host a pair of matches this weekend. Both opponents are not that familiar with Lessing Field. The Stags will welcome Towson for the first-ever home match against the Tigers on Friday at 7pm. The weekend concludes with just the second home match in program history against Bryant on Sunday at 1pm. Fairfield is a combined 3-0 against the two squads.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield lost both matches in the Fairfield Invitational, dropping a 3-1 decision to Drexel and a 1-0 double overtime match against Central Connecticut. Sara Plowman scored her first career goal for the Stags as she took a deflected shot from Karolyn Collins from well outside the box. Fairfield’s backline stepped up in the double overtime loss against Central Connecticut, shutting out an opponent over 90 minutes for the first time this season. Cassidy Boegel nearly won the match for Fairfield, but her lined shot in overtime was stopped by the reigning NEC Goalkeeper of the Year, Nikki Turley.

EVERYBODY PLAYS: With 30 players on the roster and arguably the deepest roster Head Coach Jim O’Brien has had, the Stags are still plugging in different lineups and formations. Through the first four matches this season, 24 players have appeared in a match for the Stags, with 15 different players getting in the starting lineup. Of those players, 21 have played 60 minutes or more this season.

THE SCOUTING REPORT ON TOWSON: The Tigers were picked to finish eighth in the 10-team CAA, but are unbeaten in their last two matches. After a strong defensive effort in a 1-0 road loss to No. 21 St. Johns, the Tigers drew High Point 2-2 and defeated Villanova 1-0. CAA Player of the Week, Natalia Pinkney scored twice during those matches, including the game-tying goal in the 78th minute against High Point and the game-winning tally against Villanova. Defender Vasthy Delgado was the lone Tiger to be named to an All-CAA Preseason Team. Taylor Sebolao has been the lone starter in goal, posting a 0.95 goals against average and a .892 save percentage.

THE STAGS V. THE TIGERS: Fairfield is 1-0 in the all-time series against Towson in the series that was started just last season. Anna Borea had the decisive tally in the 10th minute. Collins would record the lone assist. Fairfield did not allow Towson to record a single shot in the first half, and allowed just six in the second half. Only one of those shots were on goal. Towson, however, had a barrage of those shots in the final stanza, including a goal from Gabby Scirica, but it was called back for offsides.

THE SCOUTNG REPORT ON BRYANT: The Bulldogs come into the weekend 0-3, and have not scored a goal this season. Bryant was picked seventh in the NEC Coaches Poll under first-year Head Coach Andy Biggs. Kaylan Conrad has started all three matches this season and holds a 3.36 goals against average and a .609 save percentage.

THE STAGS V. THE BULLDOGS: Fairfield is 2-0 all-time against Bryant with their last meeting coming in 2011. Jasmin Corniel recorded the game-winner in that match with the assist coming from Nikki Stanton playing in her first career match. Fairfield allowed just one shot on goal in that match. Corniel also tallied a goal in the first-ever match in the series in 2010, and assisted on the game-winner to Spenser Allaway. It was one of Allaway’s two markers in the match.

UP NEXT: Fairfield continues their seven-game home stand with a meeting against Rhode Island next Friday at 7pm.