Oct. 29, 2006
The Fairfield University women's soccer team dropped its regular season finale 1-0 to visiting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Niagara University, this afternoon on Lessing Field. The loss drops the Stags record to 9-6-4 overall and 5-2-2 in the MAAC, while the Purple Eagles improve to 10-6-1 on the year and 6-2-1 in league play.
Niagara scored the games loan goal at 17:45, as Jenna Sporta (Oakville, Ont.) lifted a pass from Brittany Bisnott (Brampton, Ont.) into the far corner of the goal. The Purple Eagles would out shot the Stags 14-5 for the game, 11-2 in the second half, with the wind at their backs. Niagara also notched 11 corner kicks to the Stags two.
Fairfield had several opportunities to score, none better then a corner kick late in the second half. The ball knocked off of a Stags player head to the foot of Casey Frobey (Sandy Hook, Conn.), but she was unable to put the ball home.
Katie Ely (Schnecksville, Pa.) started the game for the Stags on Senior Day, and allowed the goal in her 20:15 of play. Brett Maron (Billerica, Mass.) played the remaining 69:45, shutting out the league's top ranked offense in that span. She made nine saves in her time in net.
Sara Stephens (Toledo, Ohio) posted the shutout for Niagara, making one save.
Fairfield's Betsy Nyman (South Glastonbury, Conn.) made the 77thth start of her collegiate career, tying her for the Stags all-time record in that category. She has started each game she has played in at Fairfield, missing just one in the four years.
The result sets up a rematch between the two teams in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament, November 3-5 at Fairfield. The Purple Eagles finished second with 19 points, while the Stags are third with 17 points. Loyola is the top-seed, while Siena earns the fourth spot. The semifinals will be played at 4 and 7 p.m. on Friday, with the final, live on ESPNU, set for Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
