Merrimack College’s men’s soccer team will host Fairfield in a Metro Conference semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Martone-Mejail Field in North Andover.
The sixth-seeded Warriors face the regular-season champions with a berth in Saturday’s conference final on the line. The conference’s updated bracket confirms Merrimack will host because departing member Fairfield is ineligible to host conference championships during 2026-27.
Merrimack enters at 6-3-9 after eliminating third-seeded Quinnipiac 2-0 in Hamden, Connecticut, on Nov. 7. Merrimack Athletics called it the program’s first conference tournament victory since moving to Division I.
Jonathan Kratz scored both goals. Mason Salvadge assisted on the opener in the 23rd minute, and Ziad Barakat supplied the pass for Kratz’s second late in the match. Goalkeeper Matteo Malaguti stopped seven shots to secure his seventh shutout of the season.
Warriors face regular-season champions
Merrimack’s updated statistics show Kratz leading the team with six goals and 13 points. Barakat has a team-high five assists, while Malaguti enters the semifinal with 57 saves.
Head coach Tony Martone is in his 45th season leading the Warriors, who finished conference play at 3-1-6.
Fairfield’s semifinal preview lists the Stags at 10-3-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play under third-year head coach Krystian Witkowski.
Cristiano Carlos and Pipeloore Olanrewaju each have five goals for Fairfield. Carlos also leads the Stags with six assists. Goalkeeper Evan Chomow has 46 saves and a conference-leading goals-against average of approximately 0.94.
The teams did not meet during the regular season. Their previous matchup ended in a 1-1 draw in 2025.
Wednesday’s winner advances to the Nov. 14 championship against either Marist or Sacred Heart. The conference champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. The semifinal will stream on ESPN+.
