Women's Soccer

Jim O’Brien begins his third season as the head coach of the Fairfield University women’s soccer team.  In his first two campaigns the Stags have taken strides towards returning to the top echelon of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and are once again among the premier programs of the Northeast Region.

O’Brien begins his third season having posted a 19-14-7 record with the Stags.  Now in his 11th season as a head coach, O’Brien is 124-70-15.

The O'Brien era started with a bang in 2005 as the Stags returned to NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. Fairfield posted 10-7-3 record on the year and revenged three regular season losses in the MAAC Tournament to become the first-ever five-seed to win the conference tournament.  With that trophy in hand, the sixth in program history, the Stags earned their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2006 season saw O’Brien lead the Stags back to the MAAC Tournament for the second time.  The Stags went 9-7-4 on the season, earning regional rankings several times during the season. 

Players have received numerous personal accolades under O’Brien’s tutelage.  Brett Maron was named to the NSCAA Third Team All-Northeast Region, after being named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.  Casey Frobey was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as being named to the SoccerBuzz Northeast Region All-Freshman team.  In O’Brien’s two seasons nine players have been named to All-MAAC teams, six earning first team distinction.  The Stags have had six players named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team in the last two years, in addition to 22 players earning MAAC All-Academic Team accolades.

O’Brien’s first head-coaching job came at his alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University, where he began the women's soccer program. During his nine-year tenure with the Owls, O'Brien compiled a 105-56-8 record. He led the Owls two a pair of ECAC Tournament appearances, and NCAA Tournament berth, and opened the 2001 seasons ranked seventh in the nation in Division II.
Following a 2000 season that saw SCSU win the Northeast-10 Conference and obtain a No. 7 national ranking, O'Brien received the Northeast 10-Conference Coach of the Year award. He was also named the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Associations' Division II Coach of the Year, as well as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Coach of the Year for Senior College Women - Division II, New England Region.

The Mineola, N.Y., native began his collegiate playing career at Suffolk Community College before finishing his eligibility at SCSU. O'Brien was the Owls' starting goalkeeper for two seasons, compiling a 35-7-1 record, including 17 shutouts, and leading his team to an NCAA semifinal appearance in 1981 and a trip to the title game in 1982.

His first collegiate coaching job was with the Owls men's program, where he served as an assistant coach from 1992-96.

O'Brien obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in corporate communications from SCSU. He resides in New Haven, Conn., with his wife Francine, and their three children, Corey, 21, a senior at Connecticut, Julia, 15, a sophomore in high school, and Aedan, 12, in middle school.
 

Laura Duncan is in her third season as a member of the Fairfield University women's soccer coaching staff. In her capacity as assistant coach, Duncan is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the program, with emphasis on recruiting and game-day and practice coordination.

A 2005 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Duncan was a four-year letter winner and helped the Blue Devils to three consecutive Northeast Conference Championships and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. A native of East Sussex, England, Duncan saw action in 57 games during her collegiate career, including 10 her senior season, despite having a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

As a junior, the defender helped the Blue Devils to 16 wins, including 10 shutouts and a 1-0 victory over Boston College in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Following that season, she was named Third Team All-Northeast Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the Soccer Buzz All-Northeast Region First Team, and New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association First Team All-New England. During her career she was also a two-time NEC First Team All-Conference selection.

Duncan serves as a coach with the Connecticut Olympic Development Program, as well as with the CFC United U17 team. In addition, she is the head coach of the CFC Impact U11 team. She holds both a USSF `C' License as well as an English FA `B' License.

Tiffany Weimer begins her first season as a member of the women's soccer staff at Fairfield University, after an All-America playing career at Penn State University.  Her primary responsibilities will be working with the Stag goalkeepers and assisting in opponent scouting.

Weimer led the Nittany Lions to four Big Ten Championships and helped the squad advance to two NCAA Final Fours.  In 2005 Weimer helped the Nittany Lions to an undefeated campaign, tying Portland in the National Semifinal, before dropping a 4-3 PK decision.  She holds the NCAA record for consecutive games with a goal scored, notching a tally in 17 straight contests during her senior year, scoring 32 goals all told.  Over her four-year career, Weimer tallied 91 goals, ninth all-time in Division I history.  Her 214 career points ranks among the top-20 all-time in college soccer.

Personal accolades followed with her success, being the runner-up two times for the Hermann Trophy, annually awarded to the nation's top female player.  Weimer is a three-time NSCAA All-America selection, as well as having been awarded the Suzy Faber award, presented to the Big Ten Conference's top female athlete.

Last fall, Weimer was invited to join the US National Team pool, with the opportunity to compete to play in upcoming World Cup and Olympic competition.  She has played for the United States U-21 National Team since 2003.  

A native of North Haven, Conn., she resides in Trumbull, Conn.