Women's Soccer Set For MAAC Quarterfinal Matchup At Fairfield

Sunday, November 3

Lessing Field / Fairfield, Conn.

1 p.m.

Sacred Heart

Fairfield University

Photo by: Josh Gee

Women's Soccer Set For MAAC Quarterfinal Matchup At Fairfield

11/2/2024 7:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer

SHU Notes v. Fairfield

No. 8 Pios take on crosstown rival with semifinal spot on the line

By: Cameron McClarren

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team embarks on its first trip to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) postseason tournament, taking on the No. 1 seed Fairfield Stags at Lessing Field in the MAAC Quarterfinals on Sunday, November 3. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers held their own in Wednesday's do-or-die match against Saint Peter's, exiting Park Ave Field for the final time in the regular season with a 1-1 draw against the Peacocks.

The Pios started the match as the aggressor, knowing that a full three points would fully guarantee postseason soccer. That being known, SHU held Saint Peter's in its own half for a majority of the first 15 minutes, sending multiple chances that went begging before finding the back of the net inside the first 20 minutes. With a cross having been parried across the face of goal by the Saint Peter's goalkeeper, Kelly Medeiros grabbed her second goal in the last three games, depositing the ball in the net with ease to put SHU ahead 1-0.

The celebrations were short-lived, however, as Saint Peter's found the eventual equalizer just over five minutes later, sending in a ball from a corner kick that the Pioneer failed to deal with until it was slotted into the back of the net. Looking to get back on top, the Pios continued to pester Saint Peter's but could not find the back of the net for a second time in the frame, sending the match into the halftime break deadlocked, 1-1.

In the second half, SHU continued to ask the pressing questions but could not solve the Peacocks' defenses with minutes left to play. The Pioneers threatened until the death, nearly capitalizing on a Martyna Krzysztopik shot that bounced off the crossbar and nearly over the line but stayed out resulting in a 1-1 tie at Park Ave Field to conclude the regular season.

ON FAIRFIELD
Fairfield enters the match having won the MAAC regular season crown with a 2-0 shutout win over Quinnipiac in Fairfield on Wednesday night. Maddy Theriault got things started in the 24^th minute for the Stags with her 12^th goal of the season before Alex Darcy netted her fourth goal of the season to give the hosts a two-goal cushion with less than 20 minutes to go. In goal, Katie Wright stopped all three shots that made their way on frame, recording her fifth shutout of the season.

Theriault leads the Stags with 12 goals on the season and 28 points, both of which lead the MAAC. Reagan Klarmann and Ashlyn Walsh sit atop the team lead in assists having earned six of them during the season. Both Theriault and Walsh enter the weekend match on point-streaks with Theriault having tallied points in the last three games. The aforementioned Wright leads the time in between the sticks for the Stags registering a 13-2-1 record this season while sporting a 0.83 goals-against average and .741 save percentage.

Dave Barrett leads the Stags in 7^th season with the Stags, amassing a winning record in the last four season while grabbing a 302-122-50 record in his 24-year coaching career. The Pioneers took their first-ever win over the Stags in this season's meeting back at Park Ave Field on October 16 as first-half goals from Shea Kelleher and Miriam Shomstein propelled the Pios to a 2-1 win.