FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- If this weekend's season opening tournament doesn't provide enough excitement, consider that both Fairfield University and host St. John's University will enter Sunday's game as members of the NSCAA national pre-season poll. The Red Storm placed 17th in the rankings, while the Stags are listed as receiving votes.

Fairfield battles the University at Buffalo in the first round of the tournament on Friday night. The Stags are coming off one of their best seasons in school history, a campaign which included a Metro Atlantic Athletic conference regular season and tournament title as well as a trip to the NCAA tournament. Fairfield posted a school-record tying 15 wins in 2006, which included seven MAAC victories.

Head Coach Carl Rees will benefit from the return of several key players from last year's team, including MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Tom Skara. Skara joined Sam Bailey and Alex Cunliffe on the NSCAA All-Region team last year. Bailey, a forward, is the team's top returning scorer with 16 points, just four points behind Cunliffe's 20 markers. Bailey led all Fairfield players with five game-winning goals, one better than midfielder Christian Uy.

Uy made the most of his six goals, the only rookie to reach double figures for scoring. He earned a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team, along with midfielder David Piedrahita.

Fairfield opens the home portion of its schedule on September 15 when it hosts Yale University at Lessing Field.