2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship Quarterfinals Kicks Off on Sunday
EDISON, NJ (October 28, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Soccer Championship kicks off this Sunday, October 31 with four quarterfinal games. The championship field features Monmouth University, Quinnipiac University, Niagara University, Siena College, Iona College, Fairfield University, Marist College, and Rider University.
The eight-team championship will take place over three days with all games being hosted by the higher seeds. Following Sunday’s opening round of games, the semifinals will take place on Thursday, Nov. 4, and the championship title match will take place on Sunday, Nov. 7. All Championship matches will air live on the ESPN family of networks.
The top-seeded Monmouth University Hawks won the MAAC Regular Season Championship and have ensured that the road to the MAAC Championship goes through West Long Branch by going 8-1-1 in conference play. The regular season title was their eighth in the past nine seasons. The preseason favorites flexed their strength throughout the regular season, winning six of their first seven MAAC contests. The Hawks are led by Head Coach Dr. Krissy Turner and an offense that is paced by seniors Jesi Rossman, Lauren Karabin, and Jill Conklin who have combined to earn over half of the team’s points this season.
The No. 1 Monmouth Hawks (12-4-1, 7-1-1 MAAC) will host No. 8 Rider (5-9-2, 3-6-1 MAAC) at 3 pm. The Rider Broncs were Monmouth’s lone tie this season in a 0-0 contest on September 29. The Broncs are led by junior Chloe Fisher who has three game-winning goals this season.
No. 7 Marist (5-6-3, 4-4-2 MAAC) travels to Hamden, CT to take on No. 2 Quinnipiac (12-4, 7-3 MAAC) at 12 pm. Quinnipiac edged Marist earlier this season in a 1-0 thriller that was forced into double overtime on October 2. Quinnipiac senior Selena Salas assisted sophomore Rebecca Cooke for the game-winner. Marist’s senior goalie Natalie Kelchner boasts the best save percentage (.871) across the conference.
No. 6 Fairfield (9-6-3, 5-4-1 MAAC) will venture to Western New York to take on No. 3 Niagara (13-4, 7-3 MAAC) at 1 pm. Niagara defeated Fairfield 3-2 on October 2 led by a goal and an assist from Emma Davies. Junior Florence Vaillancourt paces a potent Niagara offense who led the conference in scoring this season. Fairfield’s offense is led by sophomore Elle Scott and graduate student Gabby Diodati.
No. 4 Siena (8-9-1, 6-4 MAAC) will be host to No. 5 Iona (11-7, 6-4 MAAC) at 1 pm. An experienced Siena Saints squad is led by Head Coach Steve Karbowski and redshirt-sophomore goalie Brooke Boermeester. Iona has enjoyed a breakout campaign from freshman Kedarjah Lewis and are led by Head Coach Todd Plourde.
In an unprecedented 2020-21 MAAC Soccer season this past spring, the Siena Saints knocked off the Monmouth Hawks in an instant classic decided by penalty kicks (4-2). Siena senior Emily McNelis earned Most Outstanding Player of the Championship.
Tickets for all matches during the 2021 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship can be purchased through HomeTown Ticketing at the gate or by visiting
maacsports.com.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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