FAIRFIELD, CT – The #5 seeded Manhattan Jaspers Women's Soccer team (10-7-3, 5-4-3) conclude their season after falling to the top seeded Fairfield Stags (17-2-1, 10-1-1) 4-1 in the semifinal round of the 2024 MAAC Women's Soccer Championships on Thursday evening from Lessing Field.
Manhattan was caught chasing early after trailing by two in the first 12 minutes of the match. Nearly halfway through the first half on the offensive attack, junior defender Mayah Wheeler drew a foul just inside the edge of the 18-yard box against Fairfield's Sam Erickson. VAR eventually confirmed the call to allow senior defender Julia Nicholas to take the penalty kick, which was successful.
On Fairfield's ensuing counterattack, goalkeeper Molly Brunk made an acrobatic save against Maddy Thierault to force a corner kick and keep the match within two.
Fairfield scored another two in the waning minutes of the first half and four minutes into the second half to put the match on ice.
With the win, Fairfield will face #1 Quinnipiac in the MAAC Championships Final on Sunday, November 10.
The Jaspers were outshot by the Stags 23-4, while Brunk stood tall and tied a career-high with nine saves on the night.
