Friends of Fairfield Athletics,
As we enjoy the spectacular fall weather and the spirit of Thanksgiving in the air, the time is perfect to convey my gratitude for your continued commitment to Fairfield Athletics. Your steadfast support through philanthropy, game attendance, mentorship, and more are integral to the success of our student-athletes in every aspect of their holistic educational experience. This year, we are guided by our theme, “Choose the Better,” a deeply Jesuit idea that calls us to seek growth and purpose in every decision we make.
Our pursuit of comprehensive excellence remains grounded in two constants: people and process. We are proud to have coaches and staff who are among the very best in college athletics – they are knowledgeable and passionate about developing young men and women of high character. Our student-athletes are hardworking, selfless, and dedicated to becoming the best version of themselves in the classroom, in competition, and in our communities, truly embodying what it means to be a Stag. Together, we continue to choose the better path – one that pushes us to grow, always with the intent to achieve a shared vision with a common sense of purpose.
It is with great pride that I share some of the many highlights from what has been an exceptional fall season thus far, with the anticipation of conference championships just ahead of us.
Competitive Highlights
- Women’s Soccer has opened MAAC play strong, anchored by a top-ranked defense and an unblemished mark within conference play, clinching a regular season championship, and achieving a top 25 national ranking
- Men’s Soccer has picked up key wins, including a thrilling victory over #17 Marist, with some of our first-year students leading the program in scoring. The Soccer Stags sit in second place, within striking distance of the top team with just two games to go.
- Volleyball continues its tradition of excellence, currently sitting atop the MAAC standings at the halfway point of the regular season, with a 10-1 conference record.
- Field Hockey, under first-year coach Laura Gebhart, blazed through the NEC, sitting at 8-0 and will host the conference tournament next weekend.
- Cross Country continues to post personal records and strong team finishes, as they build toward the MAAC Championships this weekend. **(NEED TO UPDATE AFTER CHAMPS THIS WEEKEND).**
- Rowing – The Stags Women’s Club 4 entry in the prestigious Head of The Charles Regatta claimed 17th place out of 53 entries, and the men’s freshman 4 secured a third place finish at the Head of the Schuylkill.
- Swimming & Diving – Coach Lichter and his squads dove right into their season, with the men’s team defeating Providence and Bryant, and the women’s program securing a victory over Providence and dropping a close one to Bryant.
- Women’s Tennis – Anna Neyestani and Maria Gell, along with the tandem of Sophia Harris and Regina Hererra, each bowed out in the semifinals of the second-annual MAAC Masters Tournament.
- Men’s Tennis – Alex Aguiar and Diego Alcala captured the doubles championship at the 2025 MAAC Masters Tournament and will represent Fairfield and the MAAC at the ITA Conference Masters Championship in San Diego on November 6.
- Golf – A strong fall from both teams, as Sofia Nogal won the Lady Dolphin Invitational tournament, hosted by Lemoyne. On the men’s side, they’ve secured 3 second-place finishes out of five tournaments.
As we reach the apex of our fall competitive seasons, I’m equally excited for the anticipated energy inside Mahoney Arena as Stags Basketball tips off. We have many sport-specific alumni and parent events throughout the winter held in conjunction with our MBB & WBB home games. Please look for upcoming events you might like to attend by visiting events.fairfield.edu.
You play an invaluable role in providing the requisite resources to build and maintain championship programs. Please consider continuing your support with a gift to our #GivingTuesday campaign on December 2. Any donation made to our Built for Life Fund, or the sports program of your choice, will count towards our #GivingTuesday campaign goals.
Thank you again for making a difference!
Go Stags,
Paul Schlickmann
Vice President for Athletics
