JAMAICA, N.Y. -- Head Coach Carl Rees watched his team start the season with a 1-0 victory over the University at Buffalo in the first round of the St. John's Tournament. The Stags will take on the host school on Sunday night at 8 pm.

The two teams played an even match with both squads managing seven shots in the game. Fairfield goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini was solid and earned his first shutout of the 2007 campaign. Francini was required to make just one save in the game, one less than his counterpart Robert Shuttleworth. Neither goalkeeper was forced to make a save in the opening 45 minutes of the game.

The Stags tallied the game's only goal in the 70th minute when Sam Bailey scored his first goal of the season. Fairfield's defense kept Buffalo off stride throughout the game, and played well down the stretch to keep the team off the scoreboard.