Fairfield University Athletics got off to a hot start to the 2024-25 academic year with the Stags’ fall teams turning in successful campaigns, highlighted by a trio of conference championships. The field hockey team won the Northeast Conference Championship for the third time, while the women’s soccer and volleyball teams each hoisted the MAAC Championship trophy.
Field hockey’s championship campaign was a fitting send-off for Head Coach Jackie Kane ’87, who retired after 30 years leading the Stags. Kane is the longest tenured head coach in any sport in Fairfield varsity athletics history and the only head coach in the field hockey’s program tenure at the Division I level. On the heels of winning the Northeast Conference for the third time, the Stags made their sixth appearance in the NCAA postseason. Fairfield went toe-to-toe with Delaware in the opening round before falling in overtime, 2-1, to complete the season with a record of 12-9.
The Women’s Soccer program turned in a landmark season in 2024, winning the MAAC Championship for the first time since 2008 – the seventh tournament title in Fairfield history. Fairfield also on the MAAC Regular Season Championship for the ninth time and made its sixth appearance in the NCAA postseason. Head Coach David Barrett, who earned his 300th career win during the season, was recognized for his efforts as the MAAC Coach of the Year and ECAC Coach of the Year. Individually, Maddy Theriault ’26 earned the MAAC’s Golden Boot as Player of the Year and went on to claim All-Region honors alongside midfielder Reagan Klarmann ’25. The Stags tied the program record for wins, finishing at 18-3-1.
Fairfield Volleyball continued to set a standard for MAAC programs, winning its 14th MAAC Championship – also its second straight and seventh in the last nine seasons. The Stags also won their sixth consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship to run their total to a remarkable 23 in the last 29 campaigns. Head Coach Nancy Somera was honored as MAAC Coach of the Year, while six student-athletes merited All-MAAC recognition. Allie Elliott ’26, Mamie Krubally ’27 and Maya Walker ’26 were all selected to the All-MAAC First Team, the duo of Mikayla Haut ’25 and Blakely Montgomery ’25 landed on the Second Team, and Harlan Wyche ’28 was tabbed for the MAAC All-Rookie Team. The Stags challenged #7 Wisconsin in Madison in the NCAA Championship First Round, wrapping up the season at 21-12 overall.
The fall also saw two Stags make individual history. Hannah Snayd ’27 became the first Fairfield Cross Country runner to win the individual MAAC Championship, breaking the tape in the 6K meet in 20:36.3 to beat the field by more than nine seconds. Snayd was named the MAAC Most Outstanding Runner and Rookie of the Year for her performance.
On the tennis courts, Anna Neyestani ’27 won the inaugural MAAC Masters Tournament to advance to the ITA Conference Masters. After a three-set win over Niagara’s Saloni Tamang in the first round, Neyestani swept her way through the next three MAAC opponents. She ultimately topped reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year Caterina Assi – 6-1, 6-3 – in the final round. At the national ITA Conference Masters Championship, Neyestani earned a victory over Chloe Routier of Western Illinois before falling in the Round of 16 to Old Dominion’s Sofia Johnson – the eventual winner of the tournament.
For the most up-to-date information on all 20 of Fairfield’s varsity athletics programs, visit FairfieldStags.com.
