Four Stags Named To All-MAAC Team

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- After capturing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2006, the MAAC men's soccer head coaches believe that Fairfield University is the team to beat this season. The Stags were selected as the top team in the annual preseason coaches poll, scoring 98 out of possible 100 points in the voting.

Four Fairfield players earned a spot on the preseason All-MAAC team, which was also chosen by vote of the MAAC head coaches. Goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini (Oakland, N.J.), defender Tom Skara (Greenwich, Conn.), midfielder Sam Bailey (Cheshire, England), and midfielder Christian Uy (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) received a berth to the 12-member squad.

Francini led all conference goalkeepers last season with a 0.80 goals against average, the only student-athlete with an average under one goal per game. He secured All-MAAC first team honors as a junior, as well as three MAAC Defensive Player of the Week awards.

Skara capped his junior campaign by being named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. The back, who has started 41 straight games, also collected All-MAAC honors. He helped the Stags post a 0.84 goals against average by allowing just 18 goals in 21 games.

Bailey scored six goals in 2006, which included five game-winning goals. He netted a pair of goals against Loyola in the MAAC semi-final victory. He is the team's top returning scorer with 16 points. Bailey earned All-MAAC honors, and picked up the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal against Marist and Siena.

Uy tallied 12 points a year ago, the most points by any newcomer on the team. All of his points came off of six goals, the last of which was the team's first goal in a 2-1 win over the University of Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In the poll, Fairfield tallied 98 points for first place, followed by Loyola College with 81 points. Saint Peter's secured third place with 71 points, while Niagara was fourth with 57 points. Canisius (56 points), Iona (54 points), Marist (51 points), Manhattan (31 points), Rider (30 points), and Siena (21 points) rounded out the preseason poll.

The Fairfield University men's soccer team opens the 2007 season against the University at Buffalo on August 31 in the first round of the St. John's tournament.