As the Fairfield University women's soccer team huddled around the pitch after their 4-1 victory over Iona this past Wednesday, Head Coach David Barrett kept repeating one word as he described the journey the team has been on over the last four years. That word was "pride."
 
That long journey has led the Stags to earn a share of their first MAAC Regular Season Championship in a decade after posting a 14-3 overall record and a 9-1 league mark.
 
"I'm incredibly proud of this team," Coach Barrett said. "This has been a great journey that we've been on. A lot of pieces of the puzzle have come together in high-level performances and special players lifting us up when we needed it. It's been a process to get to this point and we're really pleased they were able to put it together over the course of the season."
 
The nine MAAC victories tie the 1997 and 1998 squads for the most in program history, while their 14 wins overall is the most by any Fairfield team since 2014.
 
The Regular Season Championship is the eighth in program history for the Stags and their first since 2012. The Stags share this year’s crown with Quinnipiac, which nabbed the top seed due to a head-to-head result over Fairfield in a 3-2 instant classic on Oct. 1.

As the second seeded team, the Stags will host a MAAC Championship Semifinal on Lessing Field on Thursday, Nov. 3 against an opponent to be determined. If Quinnipiac advances to the final, the rematch will be held in Hamden on Sunday, Nov. 6. If the Bobcats are upset in their semifinal contest, the Stags will be primed to host the tournament final on Lessing Field next Sunday.