A three-point first half from Maddy Theriault propelled Fairfield to a 3-2 victory over Canisius in MAAC women's soccer on Saturday afternoon at Lessing Field in Fairfield, Conn.

The Golden Griffins dropped to 10-3-3 overall and 7-2-2 in conference play with the loss, while the Stags improved to 14-2-1 overall and 9-1-1 in MAAC play with their sixth win in their last seven contests.

Fairfield got on the board first in the game's fifth minute after Sam Kersey headed the ball over Golden Griffin goalkeeper Jordan Spencer off a pass from Theriault. 

Theriault would double the Stags' lead just two minutes later, settling her own rebound off the crossbar and then burying the ball home into a wide-open net to make the score 2-0 in favor of Fairfield.

Fairfield pushed its lead to 3-0 in the 13th minute when Theriault once again found the back of the net after a shot deflected off Spencer before dribbling just across the goal line.

Junior forward Mia Iacona got Canisius on the scoreboard at the 30:47 minute mark in the first half with the Griffs' first shot on goal of the contest, squeezing the ball through the hands of Stags' goalie Katie Wright, to make the score 3-1 at the intermission break.

Senior midfielder Emma Oliphant trimmed the Stags' lead to 3-2 with five minutes remaining in the contest. Sophomore midfielder Jesscia Whitaker sent in a free kick to senior forward Madeline Weltin, who deflected the ball over to Oliphant for her fifth marker of the season. That would cap the day's scoring however, as neither team recorded a shot in the game's final 5:00.

GAME NOTES
• Saturday's game served as the 34th contest between Canisius and Fairfield.
• The Stags out shot the Griffs, 14-6, led by a 6-2 shots on goal margin
• Oliphant led the Griffs with four shots. Her five goals this season is a career high.
• Iacona also tied her career-high in goals with her second marker of the season.
• Senior Sophia Konstantinou extended her consecutive minute streak to 2,250-straight minutes played.

UP NEXT
The Griffs head home for their final game of the regular season in a "Battle of the Bridge" match-up with long-time rival Niagara Oct. 30 at the Demske Sports Complex. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m., as a part of a "Pink Game" doubleheader with Canisius volleyball.

SUPPORT THE GRIFFS
Support the Canisius women's soccer team in conjunction with the "More Than A Game" campaign. Your donation to the women's soccer program helps our student-athletes continue to be champions in the community, in the classroom and in competition. To donate, CLICK HERE.