Fairfield, Conn. – The Fairfield University women’s soccer team won its fifth consecutive game as it opened the defense of its 2008 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title with a 2-0 win over Iona College on Lessing Field.  The Stags improve to 6-3-0 overall and 1-0-0 in league play, while the Gaels fall to 2-8-1 on the year and 0-1-0 in conference action.

The Stags got the game-winning tally after a foul was called on the Gaels 35-yards from the goal and just inside the near sideline.  Alyssa Decker (Old Saybrook, Conn.) lofted the ball into the six-yard box where Chrissie Sidie (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) was able to head the ball past the Iona goal keeper.

Fairfield wrapped up the scoring just over 12 minutes later as it strung several one-touch passes together inside the 18-yard box.  Allison Walsh (Westport, Conn.) touched the ball across to Jasmin Corniel (Yonkers, N.Y.) who redirected the ball to the foot of Kasey Schulz (Newtown, Conn.) for the tally.

Kelly Boudreau (Farmington, Conn.) earned her third clean sheet of the season in earning the win for the Stags.  She made five saves, with three coming in the second half.  Suzanne Baldissard (Kinnelon, N.J.) made six saves, with five in the second period, but allowed two goals in the loss for the Gaels.

Fairfield is now 15-2-1 in the MAAC season opener, and are 4-1-0 under fifth-year head coach Jim O'Brien.

Fairfield outshot Iona 15-9 in the contest, with a 9-6 advantage in the second-half, including an Adrienne Boyer blast that careened off of the cross bar.  The Stags held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks and committed four more fouls, 17-13.

Fairfield will return to action on Sunday, September 27 as it travels to West Point for a non-conference game with Army.  That contest is set to begin at 1 p.m.