Stags 99th in Nation

The new computer ratings involving the MAAC Conference has been released. Ranking all the teams in the nation finds Rider in first in the MAAC, followed by Iona, and Fairfield at 99 rounding out the top 3.

I agree with the computer ratings as you can argue that Fairfield have two quality wins al year with the road victory at Siena and the home win against Vermont. The cancellation at Florida is a killer because they are more than a quality team and the Stags would be able to see where they stand. They are the last quality non-conference opponent and the rest of the schedule is very weak.

Women: Fairfield vs NC State POSTPONED

Tomorrow night's Fairfield at NC State game has been postponed and rescheduled for 12/30 at 4:00 PM. There is no word if there will be a radio broadcast for the event.

Stags vs Florida CANCELLED

Tomorrow night's game with Fairfield travelling to Florida has been CANCELLED with no make up date (if any) announced.

Not on the Bench Anymore

Three years ago she sat on the bench only emerging on the court for 20 games and 56 minutes of play. Combine that with her sophomore total of 37 and she saw 97 total minutes of action. In that limited time she managed to score 6 total field goals and her two season box score read 18 points. Who would have thought that 10 games into her senior season she would have attained 100 baskets and have amassed 258 career tallies?

 

When Joelle Nawrocki walked on to the Fairfield campus she immediately found herself behind the shadows of the players who have already been cornerstone of the team. "Her first couple of years here, especially her first two years we had both Lauren Groom and we had Shireyll Moore here, two players very capable of playing the three spot so she was kind of buried," head coach Joe Frager said.

 

After those two athletes graduated, it became the time that she had been waiting for. It was finally her chance to shine and show that she was able to play and to prove herself in her junior season. The opening game of that 2009-2010 campaign featured several career highs as she played in a then personal best 20 minutes. She recorded 3 rebounds which was as many as she had in the entire 2008 season and one board shy of her 2007 mark. She also swatted her first career block and swiped her third steal. Those 20 minutes almost doubled her career totals in every statistic.

 

By the time the team played their fifth game she had set personal bests in every single offensive and defensive category. Then came December 3^rd. The squad competed in their second home game of the young season and their first in the Arena at Harbor Yard. It also became the first time that she would hear her name resonating throughout the venue in the starting lineup. In that contest she reached career greats in points (15), field goals (6), three point field goals(3), while logging a personal best 39 minutes. That is more time than she saw in the entire previous year! In fact, during the first six games of the 2009 schedule, she almost doubled the amount of minutes she had in her entire career. "The first two years were difficult not playing a lot but over the past two years I've really done all that I can to contribute in every way I can and it's been really good," Nawrocki said.

 

That start seemed to be the one that turned her Fairfield career around. She would follow with five double-digit scoring games, 100 rebounds and 60 assists. Now in her final season wearing the Fairfield uniform, she is counted upon to be an even more impactful player than last year's breakout season, "last year we started her at times but we found out that we thought our best lineup was starting three post players,"F rager said. She has found herself to be a constant part of the opening lineup becoming a starter in all 10 games and has been the team leader in three separate contests. She also paces the squad in field goal percentage and three point accuracy.

 

Even though her 100 career field goal against Albany was a little milestone and one that is hardly even noticed, it shows how far she has come from her first two seasons. Her head coach said, "The patience that she showed and the commitment to our team has really shown through this year and Joelle has done a great job for us defensively and has made some timely baskets as well."

Fairfield has Best Defensive Game

The Fairfield University women's basketball team entered Wednesday's contest against the Albany Great Danes as the eighth best defensive team in the entire nation. The squad only had surrendered 50.2 points per game and had limited their foes to shoot only 35 percent. They would 'protect' those rankings as the miniscule numbers would decrease even smaller as they held the America East team to a program record 26 points while shooting a minute 16 percent from the floor. Statistically it was the best defensive effort in the 30 year history of Fairfield women's basketball. "I'm ecstatic with this win," head coach Joe Frager said, "I thought our kids did a fantastic job defensively. They paid really close attention to the scouts and really executed it to a tee."

 

Albany already became the seventh opponent that the Stags had held to under 50 points in the first 10 games of the season. Since Frager became the head of the coaching circle, the Stags have held 26 opponents to under 50 points and are 25-1 in those games. They have also confined 14 teams to under 45 points and lastly restricted 6 to below 40 tallies. It is safe to say that defense is something that the coach emphasizes in practice, "We really focused on our defense that is what we keyed in on before going into the game, we just wanted to take away their plans and make it as hard as possible for them," Joelle Nawrocki said.

 

Excluding the Hofstra game where they gave up 89 points, the team has allowed only 38 points per game! The big reason why they were able to 'secure' their winning streak which now stands at three games and 'guard' their 7-3 record.

 

Fairfield seems to have used these non-conference games as a way to flush out their mistakes and work on their strengths before the ever important MAAC portion of their schedule. "I think we're starting to turn the corner, conference play is always difficult because everyone knows each other so darn well ," Frager said.

 

With only one out-of-conference games remaining, the Stag's defense (which is the best in the MAAC) is coming together at the right time. "I think we can make a good case that this may be our best win of the season," Frager said. The head coach has always prided his team on their defensive systems. With the offense just starting to gleam the defense has always shined. If the team continues their impressive defensive effort, it just might 'secure' a MAAC crown.

Men’s Basketball Reaches 7 Straight Wins

The Fairfield University's men's basketball team continued to travel on their winning successful ways on Monday as they were victorious for the seventh straight game, the third time they have amassed a winning streak of that many under Coach Cooley. Their latest victim became the Vermont Catamounts, a team that Fairfield lost to a season ago in the annual BracketBuster contest. Although this was a non-conference game, it became a true challenge for the red hot Stags. The first six decisions of the winning streak have had some fans wondering about how legit the triumphs were. The half a dozen wins came against schools whose combined record was 8-38 which including two teams that were yet to show up on the other side of the loss column. Arguably the only 'big' win of the recent swing had been the blowout at Siena. But the Stags were looking for that "quality win."

 

The Vermont Catamounts became what they were searching for. They came into the game ranked 16^th in the Mid-Major Poll and 37^th in the National RPI rankings. "They were tough to prepare for," fifth year head coach Ed Cooley said, "they are a quality opponent."

 

When the Stags started struggling out of the gate, the loaded bandwagon quickly became less packed. Many question marks started to arise such as the injuries to Yorel Hawkins and Warren Edney and the doubt if Ryan Olander can truly be that big presence they desperately need. Those questions were answered on Monday.

 

"Warren and Yorel changed the game," Cooley said. Edney tied for the team lead with 15 points with Hawkins picking up his first double-double of the season recording ten tallies and rebounds. "We had to go out there and match their intensity," Edney said. The senior has reached double figures in almost all of the Stags games despite coming off the bench in the last few as he recovers from minor injuries. Coach Cooley does not care how or when he gets on the court, "I just like Warren there period," he said. "He's an oddball… if he was on a pool table he'd be a different color because when he hits something the whole game changes," Cooley said.

 

Hawkins recorded double figures in points for the fourth time in his past 5 games. It was the first time that both Warren Edney and Yorel Hawkins both ended the game in double digits.

 

The seniors were not the only two to steal the spotlight. Junior Ryan Olander showed that he can be a spark on this team. It has become a play maker who can shift the momentum of the game. The contest was culminated by a highlight reel one handed put-back dunk that he slammed down that brought a buzz to the usually quiet Arena at Harbor Yard. "Coach always says when the shot goes up get to the glass," Olander said. After the years of criticism about his toughness and his strength, Olander is going out there to answer his detractors. "When big guys get it the sky's the limit," Cooley said, "and he's close to getting it…he's going to be a hell of a player."

 

Cooley says the part of the game that the team prides themselves on is their toughness. It is evident if you witness and improved Olander for example. "Our guys lift weights and I don't want them to lift weights just to go to the beach," Cooley said.

 

The month of December was supposed to be the most difficult stretch for this squad. They were opposing two MAAC foes including the defending champions in rival Siena, a top 50 nationally ranked RPI team, and other contests that look like "trap" games. So far they have leaped over every hurtle. But their next game is a mountain. They travel to Gainesville to face the 19^th best team in the nation, Florida. This team has answered every whistle and have really heated up in the cold month of December.

    

Fairfield 500

The Fairfield University women's basketball team has always been noted as a successful MAAC basketball program. In 1980, Coach Diane Nolan and Fairfield began their Division I road and have experienced many ups and downs throughout the collegiate journey. The head coach led the squad to their first win of their new division against Hartford in the second game of the 1980 season and held the reigns for the next 26 years. During that stretch they were crowned champions on the MAAC Conference four times and have been on the national stage reaching the Big Dance twice. The exciting players and memorable coaches that have passed through the hallow walls of Alumni Hall have helped designing the venue with exhilarated fans and banners that hang from the roof. And after 30 years as a Division I program, the Stags have 500 wins to show for it.

 

The third win they recorded in their D I inaugural campaign was against St. Francis of New York. 496 wins later, they recorded number 500 versus the same Terriers. "[It's] really exciting. It's fun to be a part of that win," current head coach Joe Frager said. "This place has a rich history in basketball. Coach Nolan did a tremendous job when she was here. To try and continue that legacy and get this program going, it's exciting," he said.

 

214 people were in attendance to witness the historic win and the Stags 'race' to a win with a 64-50 decision. The afternoon was also an historic day for a player as Desiree Pina enjoyed a career best 24 points. Although the season is only 9 games old, it must have felt like '500 days of summer," for the junior guard. The Pre-season All-MAAC team selection entered the game shooting 20 percent from the floor and 2-22 from behind the arc. However, she has not concentrated on her recent struggles, "I don't really look at my points records, I just look at how we're going to win. If we win I can build on that anytime," Pina said.

 

Arguably, Pina is the most important player for the squad and they hope her performance is something the can build on. "It was only a matter of time before she had a game like this. She's a very competitive person and when you don't play the way you'd like to really competitive people tend to beat themselves up mentally," Frager said.

 

Fairfield now owns a two game winning streak and have "matured" according to Frager. "We've been talking to them about the importance of communicating both offensively and defensively. We're our best when we're talking on both ends of the floor and we're starting to see some of that," he said. Fairfield has now improved to 6-3 on the year but their record is not the most important aspect that they notice. Pina had one word for what she likes best of what she saw in the team, "togetherness."

 

With conference play approaching, the team is coming together at the right time. The Stags will go for win 501 on December 22^nd against Albany.

Stags go for 500

In the midst of its 30th varsity season and is on the doorstep of its 500th all-time victory. Team’s varsity record is at 499-364, a .578 winning percentage. Fairfield entered the year averaging over 17 wins per season at the varsity level and have won 65 games in just over three seasons under Joe Frager, going 65-39 under his tutelage.

They should get it against a St.Francis team who has only 1 win on the year and has lost to Manhattan by over 20 points at home. The Terriers have 60 assists to go along with 168 turnovers and have been outscored by an average of 18 points per game!

Other Milestones Coming Up:
Joelle Nawrocki needs 4 FGM for 100
Katelyn Linney needs 4 RBS for 100

Freshmen Success

The Fairfield University men's basketball team finds themselves at 7-3 throughout the first 10 games. If you think about the season they might consider themselves lucky for that, with the recent arising of Yorel Hawkins, the off-and-on performance of Derek Needham, the illness of Greg Nero, and the injury of Warren Edney, the performances of their three freshmen have really helped the team to their recent winning ways.

Throughout the streak the first year players are averaging nearly 11 more minutes than the first 4 games. In the year the rookies are averaging 20% of the team's scoring and 26 assists.

Jamel Fields: When Fields is in the game, he adds a dynamic presence that this team needs. He seems to take the pressure off of Derek Needham and is very aggressive to the hoop. He beats defenders with his speed and his outside shooting has quickly improved. I am impressed mostly with the way he can control the offense. The team seems to trust him when he is in the game and he does not make as many dumb passes as Needham.

He does have to improve on his free throws especially as a guard.

Maurice Barrow: He has really shown his promise in the last few games. He has shown that he can get to the hoop with his strength and can collect the rebounds.

I still don't think he is a very good finisher. Multiple times this year, he has garnered numerous offense rebounds and has failed to get the tip back.

Keith Matthews: This guy has everything. He is great around the basket and can really jump over anybody to get rebounds and has a nice touch inside the paint.

Stags win 6 straight

After a 1-3 start to the season, the Fairfield University men's basketball has won six straight games, the first time in nearly 3 years.

The only thing wrong with this winning streak is that 3 of the wins have come against team who were either winless or who have accumulated to only one victory on the season (Savannah State, Howard, and Holy Cross). The game versus Vermont will be a huge test for the team as they are playing their best basketball on the season, and is now playing against big competition.

Derek Needham Puts on a National Display

Derek Needham led the nation in assists on Tuesday. His 13 assists were 1 shy of a career high and the third time he has finished in double figures. The next closest was 8 by Dayton's Josh Parker and Columbia's Noruwa Agho. Needham finished with 8 assists in the first half. The guard had more assists than the entire Syracuse team.

Fairfield 72 Howard 52

The Fairfield Mens Basketball team (5-3, 1-0) defeated the Howard Bison (1-8) at Alumni Hall last night. It was the team's fourth straight win as the Bison and have now dropped eight consective decisions. View the complete recap and boxscore.

The Least You Should Know:
-Yorel Hawkins had a game high 16 points, the most he has scored all year.

-Derek Needham only had 7 points BUT a season high 13 assists.

-Maurice Barrow had a career game with 10 points and 9 rebounds

-The team shot 51.9 percent from the floor while limiting Howard to a 40 percent margin.

-They did have 9 of their 14 turnovers in the second half.

I really think this is one of the best games that the team has played. The people that you needed to step up really did and Needham finally found that his game is when he dribbles and splits the defenders. Even if he just had 7 points he really took the game over

Up Next:
The Stags travel to Albany to face the Siena Saints on the 10th.

Desiree Pina is Struggling

Desiree Pina entered the year as the teams leading returning scorer. However this season she is hitting only 1-20 from behind the arc and only .194 from the floor. That equates to only 6.1 points per game which is fifth on the team.

It is really hard to see Pina struggle like this. She works as hard as anyone and she really has that "it" factor. She can control the game better than any player I've seen. Although her numbers say 1-20 I hope she doesn't shy away from shooting because if she gets hot, watch out MAAC.

A Tale of Two Games

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was a tale of two games for the Fairfield University women’s basketball team. Over the weekend they enjoyed their best and worst offensive and defensive displays on the season, but they did not win a game dropping their record to 4-3 on the season. In fact, on Thursday against Villanova they struggled to the worst scoring display in the 30 year history in the program. Out of the 1003 career games, no Fairfield team, has ever tallied as little as 29 points. They also set the lowest mark for points in a half while only recording 9 in the first half. “It was a frustrating game,” Coach Joe Frager said. The fourth year head coach was disappointed in the amount of layups they missed in the game, “if we make just one of those, you’re looking at a 31-30 win.” Only four out of the 9 Stags players scored in the contest with junior forward Taryn Johnson leading the way with 11 points. The Stags remain winless against the Wildcats in their history, falling to 0-11. However the Pavilion at Villanova University wasn’t a ‘bleak house’ entirely for the Stags. “We were tremendously defensively,” Frager said. Fairfield held Villanova to only 30 points in the game, the lowest they have held an opponent since they held Lafayette to 29 points last year. “When you hold a Big East team to 30 points that’s impressive,” Frager said. The Stags did not allow a single point in the final 5 minutes of the contest.
The women’s basketball team traveled to Hofstra on Sunday to complete their weekend set of games. Although the boxscore would be the exact opposite, the result would stay the same: a loss. Playing against a team that had the “best press we’ve seen all season” and a system that is similar to the one that Kentucky runs according to Joe Frager, the Stags defense struggled allowing a season high 89 points. That was the most points allowed in a game since 2005 when Fairfield allowed 110 points against then the number one team in the nation: the Duke Blue Devils. Statistically it was the worst defensive performance in Frager’s four year reign. “They are two completely types of teams,” Frager said.
The Sunday game was not all ‘hard times’ however for the Stags. After only reaching 29 points in the Villanova game they accumulated 73 points to help the teams ‘pride.’ The best mark in regulation since November of 2008 when the Stags defeated Wagner 81-59.
Frager said it was good to see the team put the ball in the basket but he is hoping for a “few more role players to step up.” He believes that if they can find other people to make baskets then it would make it easier for players such as Desiree Pina and Katelyn Linney to score. The team’s leading scorer Desiree Pina has struggled in the opening stages of the season. The junior amassed 12.1 points per game last season but is only averaging a half of that total this year with 6.1 including going 1-20 from behind the arc. “I’m concerned. I’m definitely concerned,” Frager said. The Preseason All-MAAC team selection is also shooting just 19 percent from the floor. Frager does believe that she can find her way out of this slump, “she’s a battler,” he said.
After a scorching start to the season, sophomore Katelyn Linney has also cooled off. She was once shooting over 50 percent from behind the arc but is only 2-12 from downtown in her last 3 games. “[They are] guarding Katelyn tougher and tougher,” Frager said.
The squad finds themselves at 4-3 in the last few games before the end of the semester break. “If you had asked me in the preseason the way we were playing if I would have taken 4-3 I probably would have said ‘Yes’” Frager said. Although he said there is no reason the squad should not be 5-2. He says the purpose of out-of-conference games are to “[try] and get better.” He continues to look for the other players to step up for the team can fulfill their ‘great expectations.’

Coach Nickleberry Interview

As part of the WVOF pregame, the interview with Howard head coach Kevin Nickleberry can be hear starting at 6:50

National Rankings

Men's Basketball:
Team out of 336:
Scoring Offense (61.2 PPG) 290th
Scoring Defense (58.6 PPG) 36th
3 Pt Field Goals (4.6 PG) 292nd
3 Pt Pct Defense (30.2%) 101st
Rebound Margin (4.4) 97th

Individual out of 250:
Derek Needham- 3 Pt Field Goals (2.2) 183rd
Ryan Olander- Rebounds (7.4) 171st
Derek Needham- Assits (3.6) 231st
Ryan Olander- Blocked Shots (2.2) 51st
Colin Nickerson- Assist Turnover Ratio (2.5) 61st

Women's Basketball:
Team out of 333:
Scoring Offense (58.4 PPG) 244th
Scoring Defense (47.4 PPG) 12th
3 Pt Field Goals (6.2 PG) 88th
3 Pct Defense (43.7%) 7th
Rebound Margin (2.8) 119th

Individual out of 250:
Katelyn Linney- 3 Pt Field Goals PG (3.8) 3rd
Katelyn Linney- 3 Pt Field Goals Pct (57.6) 5th
Desiree Pina- Assist Turnover Ration (3.0) 15th
Desiree Pina- Assists PG (3.6) 203rd
Laura Vetra- Rebounds PG (7.4) 215th

Women's Basketball vs Villanova

Comparing the two:
The Stags outrebound the Wildcats by nearly 8.5 boards a game. Villanova is actually being outrebounded for they year. While the Stags maintain a +2.8.

With the help of Katelyn Linney, Fairfield is shooting .435% behind the arc with the sophomore guard is shooting .576% which is 5th in the nation.

The only categories that Villanova has an edge on is assists and turnovers. Nova averages two more assists than Fairfield while committing less turnovers. Desiree Pina enters the game 22nd in the nation in assist to turnover ratio.

The Series:

Fairfield has never beaten Villanova and they are 0-10. In a series dating back to 1996.

Savannah State Preview

The Tigers bring a 1-7 overall record into tonight’s game, which includes a 69-64 loss to Stetson University. Savannah State has played a challenging schedule thus far, including a two games in Ohio that involved a two-point setback to 2010 NIT champion University of Dayton. and a 54- 41 loss to the University of Cincinnati.

Savannah State has two double-digit scorers this sea- son, namely Jovonni Shuler (17.3 ppg) and Preston Blackmon (11.7 ppg). Shuler also represents the team’s top three-point threat, averaging 2.5 three pointers per game. He is making nearly 40 percent of his shots from behind the arc.

The Tigers have outscored the opposition in the second half this season, netting 56 percent of their points after intermission. The post halftime percentage includes nine overtime points which the team scored against Mount St. Mary’s.

The opposition has made nearly as many free throws as Savannah State has attempted this year. Opponents made 110 of 165 free throws this year (.667), while the Tigers have gone to the line just 115 times and have made 78 charity tosses (.678).

On the Right Track

After not having a scorer reach double figures, four Fairfield student- athletes registered more than 10 points in the win against Norfolk State, the most this season in any game. The team had no more than two double-digit scorers in one game in the previous four outings. Warren Edney led all Fairfield scorers with 20 points, followed by starters Derek Needham (17 points) and Keith Matthews (15 poitns). Jamel Fields came off the bench to score 15 points as well.

Warren Edney also became the First player to score twenty points in a game. It was his first twenty point performance since he tallied 24 in the 2008-09 season opener against Memphis.

Fairfield Shooting is Better

The Stags shot a season-best 63 percent from the floor and 62 percent from three-point range against Norfolk State. Before that performance, Fairfield had not shot better than 46 percent in any game this season. The team hit that field goal percentage (.457) against Sacred Heart in the season opener.

And one of those games was against St. Joseph, a team that allowed teams to shoot 48 percent on the floor.

Stags in MAAC Rankings

Key Categories:
SCORING OFFENSE G W-L Pts Avg/G
1. Siena 3 1-2 229 76.3
2. Loyola (Md.) 3 2-1 228 76.0
3. Rider 5 4-1 373 74.6
4. Iona 4 1-3 293 73.2
5. Canisius 3 2-1 218 72.7
6. Manhattan 3 2-1 214 71.3
7. Niagara 3 1-2 189 63.0
8. Fairfield 3 1-2 164 54.7
9. Marist 4 0-4 217 54.2
10. Saint Peter's 4 1-3 188 47.0

SCORING DEFENSE G Pts Avg/G
1. Saint Peter's 4 231 57.8
2. Fairfield 3 177 59.0
3. Rider 5 331 66.2
4. Loyola (Md.) 3 206 68.7
5. Canisius 3 207 69.0
6. Manhattan 3 215 71.7
7. Siena 3 224 74.7
8. Iona 4 302 75.5
9. Niagara 3 230 76.7
10. Marist 4 323 80.8

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGES G FGM FGA Pct
1. Rider 5 133 255 .522
2. Siena 3 80 170 .471
3. Manhattan 3 72 161 .447
4. Loyola (Md.) 3 74 169 .438
5. Iona 4 102 233 .438
6. Canisius 3 70 176 .398
7. Saint Peter's 4 69 191 .361
8. Niagara 3 61 171 .357
9. Fairfield 3 56 161 .348
10. Marist 4 70 205 .341

3-POINT FG PCT G 3FGM 3FGA Pct
1. Rider 5 48 94 .511
2. Siena 3 18 41 .439
3. Manhattan 3 13 35 .371
4. Iona 4 27 86 .314
5. Saint Peter's 4 20 67 .299
6. Loyola (Md.) 3 15 51 .294
7. Niagara 3 16 55 .291
8. Marist 4 25 87 .287
9. Canisius 3 21 77 .273
10. Fairfield 3 10 49 .204

ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO G Assist Avg. T-Over Avg. Ratio
1. Rider 5 75 15.0 73 14.6 1.0
2. Loyola (Md.) 3 38 12.7 38 12.7 1.0
3. Canisius 3 41 13.7 43 14.3 1.0
4. Iona 4 54 13.5 68 17.0 0.8
5. Siena 3 38 12.7 53 17.7 0.7
6. Saint Peter's 4 39 9.8 58 14.5 0.7
7. Manhattan 3 26 8.7 39 13.0 0.7
8. Niagara 3 27 9.0 41 13.7 0.7
9. Marist 4 40 10.0 61 15.3 0.7
10. Fairfield 3 27 9.0 44 14.7 0.6

Needham Breaks Streak

Derek Needham's struggling start to the season continued at Penn State. The sophomore only managed to score 6 points. It was only the second time in his career that he failed to reach double-digits in scoring breaking a streak that lasted 27 games.

In fact no Fairfield player reached double figures. The first time that has happened since December 6th, 2006 when the Stags lost to Boston College.

It's been a long road for the Stags and this could be their biggest game of the year so far. In a season where the MAAC Tournament is in your building, the fans have heard the hype, and they expect to live up to the expectations, the team can't get off to a bad start. The biggest problem has been the attendance and it will be a problem tonight as the students are all home for the Thanksgiving Break.

St. Joseph Scouting Report

- The youngest team under 16 year head coach Phil Martelli

- combined the entire team has 11 years of college experience and the average age is 19.8

-14th in the A10 in field goal defense, allowing opponents to shoot 48 percent per game.

-leading scorer is Carl Jones, the Hawks have 3 players averaging double figures.

-Phil Martelli has used 11 of 12 scholarship players in each of the first three game.

-Leading rebounder is freshmen Langston Gallaway.

- 25th best recruiting class in the nation

- 19-4 all-time against the Stags (9 in a row)

-only won one road game last year (at George Washington)

-0-2 start was the worst start for the Hawks since 1998-99.

Penn State Video Report

On the Penn State website, assistant coach Lewis Preston scouts the upcoming game against Fairfield. He talks about all the matchups the Nittany Lions will face.

Penn State Scouting Report

Jeff Brooks made seven of 11 field goals which trans- lated into a career-high 18 points as Penn State remained unbeaten with a 66-57 win over Saint Joseph’s. The Nittany Lions held the Hawks to just 19 first-half points, setting up an 11-point halftime lead. Saint Joseph’s made five field goals in the half and shot 20 percent from the floor overall and 10 percent (1 of 10) from three-point range.

Penn State has three players who average better than 10 points per game, led by Talor Battle’s 18.0 scoring average. Jeff Brooks (14.0 ppg) and David Jackson (12.5 ppg) are also scoring in double digits this season. Brooks is almost averaging a double-double with nine rebounds every forty minutes.

Tonight’s game marks the second meeting between Fairfield and Penn State in a series which began during the 1975-76 season. Penn State posted a 76-68 victory in a game that was played at Madison Square Garden, the only meeting between these teams. The victory also broke a nine- game losing streak for the Nittany Lions. Steve Balkun and Mark Young each tallied 14 points, while Joe DeSantis added 13 markers to pace the Stags offense. Jim Ouderkirk and Chris Erichsen reached the 20-point mark for Penn State, netting 25 and 22 points, respectively.

Against The Big Ten: Fairfield has played seven of the 11 Big Ten teams in its history, and owns a 1-8 all-time record against the conference. The Stags played Illinois (0-1), Indiana (0-1), Iowa (0-1), Penn State (0-1), Northwestern (1-0), and Wisconsin (0-1) one time, while taking on Michigan three times (0-3). Fairfield played Illinois in its first-ever NCAA Division I tournament game (1986) and followed with another NCAA tournament game against Indiana one year later (1987). The Stags only victory against the conference came during the 1976-77 campaign, a 92-74 decision in the sea- son opener. Six Fairfield players reached double figures, led by Daryl Strickland (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Joe Finn (14 points, 10 rebounds).

Fairfield and Rebounding

Fairfield has outrebounded the opposition in each of the first two games, and owns a +7.5 re- bounding margin. The team’s season average of 39.5 rebounds per game and the rebounding margin number both rank first among Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) teams. Ryan Olander leads the team with 7.5 re- bounds per game which is tied for fifth among all MAAC student-athletes.

Here's the thing. Ryan Olander is 7 feet. Derek Needham is 5'11''. Olander had one more rebound than the guard in the Rutgers game. Needham is your second leading rebounder. With a team with strong freshmen, Hawkins, Nero, and Olander who would have thought Needham would be your second leading rebounder?

Fairfield Struggling in the Paint

After scoring 36 points in the paint against Sacred Heart, the Stags managed just eight points in- side the lane versus Rutgers. The lack of inside scoring forced Fairfield outside in the second half against the Scarlet Knights. The Stags made six field goals in the second half, five of which were from three-point range.

That includes 0 in the second half. In fact I think that the only two pointer they had was Derek Needham thinking he was taking a three. Shooters will have off nights that is why it is so important to have a close range game that Fairfield does not have. Nero only had one point in the game. Edney only one in the second half. Those players need to be in the top 5 in scoring on a nightly basis.

Derek Needham is Cooling Off

Stags star guard Derek Needham has struggled out of the gate so far in the season. Although he is the only Stag to score in double figures in both games he is shooting 8-31 from the floor to go along with a 3-16 percentage from behind the arc.

The Stags leading scorer shot 38 percent from the floor last year and 30 percent from three. He also has 11 turnovers in the first two games with only 8 assists. The guard has scored in double figures in all but one of his collegiate games.

I know it is only the first two games but the game against Sacred Heart scared me a little. Last year he had 14 assists against the Pioneers this year he only had 4. It's really hard when your best scorer is your point guard. When Siena had Ronald Moore, all they needed was clutch baskets and alot of assists. Needham needs to be in the top of the team in scoring and a leader, and a passer, and s steal machine.

Rutgers 68 Fairfield 53

The Fairfield University men's basketball team (1-1) dropped their first game of the year against the Big East team in the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-1). Click here for the complete recap and boxscore.

The Least You Should Know:
-Warren Edney had 12 points in the game but only 1 in the second half.

-Greg Nero had 1 point

-Derek Needham had a team high 14 points but went 5-20 from the floor including 2-10 from behind the arc.

-The Stags did not have one point in the paint in the second half.

Well if the Stags keep playing like this, I think the MAAC is much more wide open than others think. They could not get anything going on offense. I do not know how a team does not score a close range shot in the second half. What is also disturbing is that Derek Needham only had one less rebound than Ryan Olander. Olander is the big man and the leader without Anthony Johnson and he NEEDS to get more boards. Not just him but the rest of the team as well.

The Game Ball Goes to: Colin Nickerson, He went 2-4 from three and did not have to play after he fouled out

Up Next: The Stags travel to Penn State to play the Nittany Lions Friday at 7:30.

Linney is Heating Up

The Fairfield University women’s basketball team improved their record to a perfect 2-0 after cruising past the George Mason Pioneers 54-37. The 489 fans who swarmed Alumni Hall witnessed a performance that became a sight to see. Stags sophomore guard Katelyn Linney scored a career high 30 points and tied the school single game record with 7 three pointers. The crowd grew louder as each straight shot caressed the bottom of the net. It was the first time a women’s basketball player tallied more than 30 points in a game since Stephanie Geehan recorded 33 against the same Pioneers. “She had a phenomenal, phenomenal game,” fourth year head coach Joe Frager said. “I was impressed the most by her defense,” Frager continued.

The New Jersey native is returning from an impressive rookie campaign where she enjoyed one of the best seasons by a Stags freshmen. She won six MAAC Rookie of the Week Awards averaging 10.2 points per game and swishing 67 three pointers, the third most in a single season in Fairfield history. “I feel more comfortable this year,” Linney said after the win, “the freshmen nerves are gone and I’ve grown a year.” Frager said that she played a “complete game.”

If the Stag want to prove their preseason ranking to finish fourth wrong, they are going to have to look for Linney and the rest of the Stags to play “complete games.” “We need to execute on offense,” Frager said. The head coach admits that the team is still looking for their biggest strength but is impressed by their inside play. “They have risen to the occasion,” he said. With the graduation of two presences in the paint with Tara Flaherty and Stephanie Geehan, who are both playing professionally oversee, the size of the team was a question mark when the season tipped off. “Sometimes it will be post players by committee,” Frager said. So far the Stags have “rise to the occasion,” as they have outrebounded their opponents by 13.

Although it is only the second game of the season, the victory against George Mason can be something that the team can build on. “It was a great win for us and for the conference,” Linney said. During her career game she only missed 3 shots the entire night. She went 10-12 from the floor including a astonishing 7-8 from three. It was the first time that the Stags have beaten the Patriots since 1996. Linney’s historic night could be compared to the last time a Fairfield team took on George Mason. Last year it was Mike Evanovich who drained a school record for three pointers in a game during the men’s magical comeback.

The women’s team will try to continue what they hope could turn into a magical season as they finish up their four game home stand this week. The Stags will take on Cornell and the University of Rhode Island at Alumni Hall. Last year, Fairfield started the campaign 3-0. Katelyn Linney will try to keep up her hot shooting but all she is trying to do is “looking to go out there and win.”

Fairfield 54 George Mason 37

The Fairfield Stags women's basketball team (2-0) cruised past the George Mason Pioneers (1-1) last night. The Stags have won two straight and including last year have won 11 of their last 12.

The Least You Should Know:
- Katelyn Linney scored a career high 30 points including tying the school's single game record with 7 threes. The 30 points is sixth all-time on the single game list. She went 7-8 from three and did not miss a shot the entire second half.

- The Stags outrebounded their opponent for the second straight game.

-Frager said he was very impressed with their defense

Linney had an absolutely amazing game. Throughout the whole game she only missed three shots. Granted she won't be like this every game but the Stags are desperately going to need her shooting in order to compete this season.

The Game Ball Goes to: Katelyn Linney, one of the best games. Her last three came at the top of the key when she was falling down, shades of Mike Evanovich.

Up Next: The Stags host the Cornell Big Red at Alumni Hall Friday at 7:00.

Sacred Heart has no buzz

According to administration at Sacred Heart University, there are no plans from adding any special event for the opening day game against Mohegan Sun. While Fairfield has 7 fan buses going up there (including WVOF) all handing out shirts, one advisor from Sacred Heart said that they do not plan to "hand out any shirts." This will no doubtedly be good for Fairfield as their fans should be the only ones in red and white shirts.

I am shocked that the Pioneers are not doing anything special for this event. We shall wait and see if the atmosphere is all Fairfield or not.

Fields has lacerated tongue

Fairfield basketball freshman guard Jamel Fields, sat out the exhibition loss against Stonehill due to a lacerated tongue. He suffered the injury in the win versus Bridgeport and received 18 stitches in his mouth. The injury is not expected to be serious and he hopes to play in the home opener against the Pioneers.

Beyar and Decker make All-MAAC teams

Stags defensive backs, Carly Beyar and Alyssa Decker were both named to All-MAAC teams in the awards ceremony on Thursday. Beyar was named to the All-MAAC rookie team with her defensive prowess and 2 goals scored (second on the team) and Decker was named to the Second team for her defensive play. It is Beyar's first career award by the MAAC and Decker's third. It is the first time Decker has not been named to the First team in her career.

I am shocked that Kelly Boudreau was not named to nay team despite her 11 shutouts. Pre-season player of the year Jasmin Corniel was also left off all the teams. Freshmen Shannon Fay and Jac Ley were also snubbed from the rookie team despite being on the upper level of the team in goals and points.

The team concludes their season as they host Harvard in a make-up game that is scheduled for November 11th.

Crawford Out

Fairfield men's guard Sean Crawford is out and probably for the season. The junior had a tear of is ACL during the Saturday practice after Red Sea Madness, which will require surgery. After the procedure to repair the tear, he is expected to rehab for 6-8 months. If he is indeed out for the year, Crawford will red shirt the 2010-2011 season.

Big loss for the team. Crawford was their ignitor from the bench and just seemed to come up with a clutch basket when the team needed it. I have spoken to Crawford since and he remains in high spirits about the team.

The team just keeps getting ravaged by injuries. But good teams are able to persevere. This injury will force other players to step up and fill their "Sixth Man" needs.

WVOF will broadcast exhibition games

WVOF has announced that they will broadcast both exhibition games with student broadcasters. Both games are start at 7:30 with the pregame starting around 7:25. It will be on 88.5 FM or cby clicking here

Men's Basketball Picked Number 1

The Fairfield University Men's Basketball team was picked to finish atop of the conference on Tuesday at Media Day. The Stags picked up 96 votes which was 5 more than runner up and 3 time defending champions Siena. The squad has been picked first by numerous college basketball magazines, including SI and ESPN.

The team also includes a couple of players who were named to all-MAAC teams. Derek Needham and Yorel Hawkins both picked up the preseason nods. Needham, the MAAC Rookie of the Year, was picked to the conference first team. The sophomore guard was named to the All-American freshmen team last year and broke almost every Fairfield freshmen record as he was the team's leading scorer and in the top ten in the nation for assists among freshmen. The freshman led the team to the Championship game and one shot away from upsetting the Saints. He became one of the most successful freshmen athletes ever to pass through the MAAC by winning a record 10 Rookie of the Week awards.

Sophomore slump? It's happened to the best of them. Teams are no longer going to have to worry about Anthony Johnson and will be focusing more on Needham. Can he handle the pressure of leading the team that is supposed to win the title?

Yorel Hawkins was picked to the finish on the All-MAAC Second Team. The senior was injured at the end of last year which forced him to miss several regular season games plus the conference tournament. He was one of the leading scorers on the team before falling victim to the injury bug, can he sustain it this year? He is going to be asked to score at will and become their offensive threat. He has never had that responsibility before and it will be interesting to see if he can handle it.

Women's Basketball Picked to Finish 4th

The Fairfield university Women's Basketball team was picked to finish 4th in the MAAC Conference yesterday during media day. For the full story click here.

Fairfield is behind schools such as Loyola, Iona, and Marist. The Red Foxes are picked to finish 1st in the Conference for the 6th straight year. The Stags are in a 4th place tie with Manhattan College. Last year the Stags were picked 6th in the MAAC but ended up going all the way to the MAAC championship game. Coach Joe Frager said that the team expected to get around a 4th place ranking but the coach does not put much emphasis on pre-season predictions.

The biggest problem for the Stags will be the graduation of Stephanie Geehan she was a one woman wrecking crew. She was almost the entire team last year the Stags would not have been close to where they finished last year without the tremendous season that she had. Who will be that one Stag to fill the immortal shoes of Stephanie Geehan? Well three players were named to all MAAC teams

Desiree Pina was named to the all MAAC second team. She was the Stags leading returner scorer and for the first time in her career she will be looked to be the star of the team. She has great ball handling ability and can drive the lane like no one I've seen before however she will not be having the same supporting cast as years before. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to being the captain of this young team.

Taryn Johnson was picked to be on the all MAAC third team. The name of her game is athleticism. She can jump higher than anyone on the team and was a big part of their playoff run.The Stags started to heat up when Taryn Johnson started to heat up. She's going to be asked to be the Stags go to rebounder.

Katelyn Linney was also named to the all MAAC third team. The Sophomore had a breakout freshman year and could easily have won the MAAC rookie of the year combined with Pina and Vasquez she will be an even more deadly three point threat.

I really like the team this year. They have three good players but no one great. Unlike the years in the past where they had a go-to scorer it seems like they'll be fighting for a lot of points. But never underestimate the coaching of Joe Frager he is smart and he knows the game it should be a fun year.

Women’s Soccer Stays Alive, Boudreau makes history

The women's soccer team was 20 minutes from their season being in serious jeopardy, but they kept their playoff hopes alive on Sunday in a must win game over the Niagara Purple Eagles. It was a day to remember for a number of exciting reasons, one even historic, and an afternoon that at least three players will never forget. The class of 2010 bid farewell to the home crowd on the Fairfield University campus. They are two of the most accomplished players in the history of the program and both showed their promise early on as they captured
the MAAC Rookie of the Year award in back-to- back seasons. 148 starts, 135 points , 43 goals, and 49 assists later these two players have inked their names in a number of records, team captains Nicole Cavallaro and Casey Frobey competed in their last game on Lessing Field. "I love playing here and there's not many memories I don't like so it's only happy times," said Casey Frobey. She ranks fifth in the school's history with points (74) and goals (29). It's the last time they will compete on the lowcut grass on Lessing Field, the last time they will stare up at the dark red clock ticking down on the scoreboard above, but fortunately for the Stags it ended up being the last time they could celebrate a win on campus. "It was extremely sad," said Nicole Cavallaro. The New York native will graduate second in Fairfield history with assists (33).

But after the players and their parents were presented their flowers, the flashes of the cameras faded, and the seniors jogged out for the last time wearing their cardinal red uniforms it was a junior who earned her own celebration. Goalkeeper Kelly Boudreau broke Anne Lyons' shutout record set a decade ago. The Farmington, Connecticut native secured her record setting 25^th clean sheet but wouldn't take all the credit, "I wouldn't be here without my team especially my back four, Alyssa Decker does not get enough credit, she's been here since I've come here, so it's all her, it's all the back four it's not an individual award it's more a team award," she said. Boudreau has helped the team from the day she arrived. She's a two time All-MAAC Second team representative and is also tops in the program history in goals against average. "To do it in her junior year, she's still got her senior year, she's going to pad that record for a long time," said Jim O'Brien. The sixth year head coach is a fellow goalkeeper from his playing days and he knows a great talent, "I think she's definitely one of the tops that we ever had and Fairfield has been known to have good quality goalkeepers over the years," he said. Boudreau reached double digits in shutouts for the season but none were more important than number ten.

The Stags entered the game in sixth place in the MAAC staring up at a 4 way tie for third with only the top four teams advancing to the conference tournament. With the added three points, Fairfield has moved into sole possession of third place. With a loss the team would have been in playoff crisis, but they refused to have the same team potentially end their season two years in a row. Last year the third seeded Stags were upset by the Purple Eagles in the First Round of the Tournament down in Disney. "We wanted to get a little payback," coach O'Brien said. The players came pumped for the rematch, "we wanted to beat them and show them we were actually the better team," Frobey said.

The Stags will play two more games on the road to close out the regular season. "We're peaking offensively at the right time," Jim O'Brien said. If Fairfield wins both games they will automatically clinch a playoff spot. Their vital road trip will begin when they will travel to Siena on Friday. The Saints were the last undefeated untied Division one school in the nation and were once ranked as #25 in the nation. However, the last time they played on that field up in Albany they won the MAAC title. After two days, the Stags will travel up to Poughkeepsie to take on the current number one seed Marist. The Red Foxes are currently 6-1 in the conference but the players actually enjoy playing on the road, "Personally, I get more pumped up for road games than I do home games, I don't know why," Boudreau said.

After a disappointing loss to Canisius the Stags faced a must win game and they were up for the challenge. With all the storylines. The playoff chase, the rivalry with Niagara, the graduation of one of the most successful senior class, and Boudreau's new school record, Frobey hopes this can propel the team, "I think the emotion that the team showed when we scored the goal and at the end of the game is something that we can remember for next week and we'll just remember that feeling and want to play for that feeling."

Men's Sixth Man?

Who will be the men's basketball team sixth man on the year? With the graduation of the best sixth man in the MAAC last year in Mike Evanovich, this becomes a even bigger problem. The candidates are all guards who can add speed and quickness to the team that is already comprised of many guards. Here's who i think are the top 3 candidates if we go by the following as the starting five.

Starting Five:
Derek Needham
Yorel Hawkins
Warren Edney
Colin Nickerson
Ryan Olander

Top three:
Sean Crawford: He is a feisty and quick guard who is one of the biggest threats from three point land. Not only can he beat his defenders with his speed but he controls the ball very well and is a good scorer. The biggest part of his game is the intensity that he brings in every time he comes off the bench. Numerous times last year he was the spark plug of the struggling team that add intensity and a desire to win.

I always thought that the best player Crawford could become is a good sixth man. I think this is his year to show that he can do this. The team is also going to struggle behind the arc with the departure of Mike Evanovich so they need someone to add to that game. He also looks alot like John Legend.

Lyndon Jordan: Two years ago, who would have thought we would have mentioned his name like this. But Jordan has shown his clutch factor in games past. He was big for us in 2008 with all the injuries but slowed down a little bit last year when he was asked to go to a starting role. He brings speed and quickness and also I feel a good knowledge of the game.

I will never forget looking at the game report after the Fordham contest and seeing that Lyndon Jordan made the winning shot. Bob Heussler's call said it all, "Lyndon Jordan the unlikeliest of heroes have given the Stags the one point win." I don't think he is better than Crawford but he does have something that helps the team out on a daily basis.

Greg Nero: This is the hardest one because Nero has enough talent to start and be one of the team's better players. All of his teammates have said that looking at him in practice, he has not missed a beat. He says that he expects to play 20-25 minutes a game, but Cooley is taking it easy on him. If he does come off the bench, he will not only be the most talented bench player in the MAAC, but he will also bring size and a grit to him that the team needs. It's a small team but when Nero wants to score, there is no stopping him.

Nero is one of my favorite players because of his competitiveness. He pushed his body beyond reasonable expectations and almost paid the price. I still think he is one of the best in the MAAC and just can't wait to see him play. When he is fully healthy, I believe that he will will become a full time starter.

Kelly Boudreau named MAAC Student Athlete of the Week

According to the MAAC website, Stags goal keeper Kelly Boudreau has been named the MAAC Student Athlete of the Week.

The Stags goal keeper is currently tied for second place in school history in shutouts and is only a half a shutout away from surpassing Anne Lyons and becoming the new leader. She has an amazing .38 GAA in MAAC play and a .883 overall good enough for 1st in the MAAC and 9th in the nation!

She also leads the MAAC in save percentage with a whopping .931.

Women's Soccer Looking to Clinch MAAC Spot

The Fairfield University women's soccer team is looking to clinch one of the top four spots to qualify for the MAAC tournament. The Stags are currently in third place with 10 points (3-1-1). There is a 3 way tie for fourth place with Canisius, Niagara, and Loyola all deadlocked at 9 points. Fairfield will have 4 games remaining in their regular season. They control their own destiny to clinch a tournament berth. If they win 3 of their final 4 games then they are automatically in. They can also clinch if they go 2-0-2. If they sweep and win all four games then they will clinch the MAAC regular season crown.

It is probably easier said then done as their final four games are all against teams in the race. Canisius and Niagara will travel to Fairfield this weekend. Both teams are tied in fourth with 9 points. Next week the soccer team will wrap up the regular season as they travel to Marist and Siena. Both teams are numbers 1 and 2 respectfully in the MAAC. Siena was the last unbeaten and untied team in the nation and once stood with a #25 ranking.

The only loss the team has in the conference was against Loyola, the only other team in the playoff hunt. The Greyhounds are the only team out of the Championship hopefuls that the Stags have faced.

It is sure going to be an exciting weekend. If they can sweep the series they will be in much better shape but this is a HUGH weekend for them. The downside is that they end the year with four tough opponents. Let's see if they can do it.

Canisius College Friday 7 p.m
Niagara University Sunday 1 p.m

Both games this weekend will be available for viewing on-line through the Stags partnership with Stretch Internet. On Sunday afternoon, Ivey Speight will be providing play-by-play commentary on the broadcast. As always, livestats are available for both games.

Stags Country Season Two

The Fairfield Magazine Show, Stags Country, will air Saturday at noon on My 9. This is the second season of the show which have aired stories such as Anthony Johnson and his battle with a blood clot, the Emmy award-winning story about cross country runner Greg Chase, and the men's lacrosse adoption of Ryan Tucker.

This show would feature such stories as Greg Nero recovering from his illness, Coach Jim O' Brien and Shannon Fay returning to their old roots, and the swim team raising money for "Swim for the Sound." Go to YouTube to see the previous stories.

Fordham 3 Fairfield 2

The Fairfield University Women's Volleyball team (8-14, 7-3 MAAC) was edged 3-2 by the Fordham Rams (13-14) last night. They have lost four of their last six matches and have lost two straight against the Jesuit rival. For the full story click here.

The Least You Should Know:

- Rachel Romansky had a career high, 60 assists in the contest. That was in the top fifteen in Fairfield history in a single game. Lauren Balmert never had such a game.

- Defending MAAC offensive player of the week, Haililani Pokipala had the seventh double double of the year with 13 kills and 10 digs.

- Alex Lopez had a season high of 13 kills.

- Kara Reis had a season high of 20 digs

This is probably the best game the Stags had played all year. Four Stags have registered a season high in a category. The only thing is, can they keep this up in MAAC play? Coming up, they play Iona who have already beaten them this year. then they play the top two teams in the conference the following week. This is going to be a crucial week for The Stags so they can play their best before the tournament.

Haililani Pokipala wins MAAC Offensive Player of the Week

Fairfield University outside hitter Haililani Pokipala has won the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week. For the full story click here. In the weekend she had 21 kills and 19 digs. She also recorded a double double in the win against St. Peters a win that snapped the team's three match losing streak. For the season, the Hawaiian native leads the team in kills per set and is second in digs per set.

She really had a great weekend, but is this the same confident team? In the video posted on fairfieldstags.com, Pokipala says that the goal on the team in the beginning of the year was to obviously win a MAAC Championship, but now she says the goal is to stay focused in practice and hopefully it will translate to a win. I have never seen a team lose so much confidance. When the time gets tough, the good and winning teams will persevere and win that game and win the crown. The team has gone to the MAAC tournament as the top seed every year since 2001 and has not won one championship. Is this a strong enough team to come back from difficulties and win one without the best talent?

WVOF to offer fan bus to CT6

WVOF has announced that they will offer a fan bus for students FREE of charge to the Connecticut 6 basketball event. The Stags tip off their season in the early game of the 3 against Sacred Heart. They play at 4:00 and the bus will leave at 1:30 after free pizza at the Levee. The other buses will cost $5 but WVOF is the only free bus. The contest will be announced at a future date so come and support your Stags!

WVOF to broadcast Red Sea Madness

WVOF has announced that they will broadcast LIVE from Alumni Hall the Red Sea Madness event. Since students are the only ones allowed this will be the only way to listen to the event.
The event will consist of a three point shooting contest and a skills competition. Don't forget the slam dunk competition. It is the first look at the new men's and women's basketball teams. So tune in to wvof.org or 88.5 FM or click here.

Boudreau wins MAAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week

Stags goalie Kelly Boudreau has been named the MAAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week. For the full story click here. It is the third time she has been awarded this honor and the second time for the ECAC.

She earned back to back shutouts this weekend while stopping 7 shots. For the season she has 8 shutouts to add that to her now 23 career. She is now 1.5 behind first place in the history of Fairfield University.

She ranks tops in the MAAC in:
Goals Aganist Average
Saves
Shutouts
Save Percentage- which is tenth in the nation!

She has not allowed a goal in 290 minutes in MAAC Play.

Red Sea Madness on Friday

Hey fans don't forget to come out to the Red Sea Madness on Friday at 9 PM in Alumni Hall. There will be free food and prizes. WVOF will have it's own table at the event giving away promotional stuff. Excited for basketball? Well, the men's and women's basketball team will be involved in different contests such as a skills competitions, three point shooting, and slam dunk challenge.

So come see your favorite Stags officially begin the basketball season!

Saint Peter's Wesley Jenkins suffers knee injury

According to Jersey Journal's online sports blog, St. Peter's Wesley Jenkins has suffered a serious knee injury. Apparently he has injured his ACL in a campus pick up game. The injury is noted to not as be as serious as previously thought.

According to reports, Jenkins is not going to need surgery, but MIGHT have to sit out the entire year. No decision has been made to redshirt him.

Jenkins averaged 13.8 PPG and is one of the league's premiere shooters. He is arguably one of the team's best players.

BIG news! I don't know if the Peacocks can compete without Jenkins. They will have to rely on Ryan Bacon and their other players. Jenkins had the possibility to become the MAAC Player of the Year.

Fairfield Teams Up with Stretch Internet

Fairfield University has announced a new partnership with Stretch Internet to broadcast the remaining collegiate events. The first game will be Friday night with the women's soccer team hosting Manhattan. For the full story click here.




Prices Include:
All-Access Package- all events that Fairfield broadcasts $125 per year
Fall Broadcast- all fall sports (soccer, volleyball, field hockey) $69
Basketball Broadcast $99
Lacrosse Broadcast $49
Per-game Fee $7.95

The game broadcasts will STILL be broadcasted on wvof.org, and the audio from that will also be available on the internet broadcast. A full schedule will be announced shortly.

Click here to get started!

Women's Basketball Announces 2010 Team Captains

The Fairfield Stags women's basketball team has announced the captains for the 2010-2011 season. They are: Junior Sarah Paulus, Junior Desiree Pina, and Senior Kelly Romano.

Sarah Paulus missed all but 4 games last year after suffering a knee injury. She has 3.6 PPG and 6 assists to go along with 6 turnovers. All reports and talks indicate that she will play this season and the knee is fine. She brings great leadership to the floor and seems to have great composure. She reminds me of Megan Caskin. A guard who is not know for her scoring but she can control the game.

Kelly Romano played in 16 games without scoring a point. She is one of the 2 seniors on the team combined with Joelle Nawrocki. I wonder if the Westport guard will get any more playing time this year. I remember 2008 when Nawrocki was in the same position, only really playing in blow out games, and then she earned a starting nod last year and played in more minutes in 3 game then she did in her career.

Desiree Pina can have a breakout year. She was named to the All-MAAC Third Team and the all tournament team. She struggled at first moving to the point guard position but she really became one of the better players in the MAAC. She was great at driving the lane and getting open. For the first time in her career, she will become the star of the team.