FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- There's two ways you can go with a scoreless tie. You can look at the lack of offense, or you can tout the strong defensive effort. Head Coach Carl Rees chooses the latter in the Stags 0-0 deadlock with Saint Peter's College, the first time the two teams have met since last year's 1-0 Fairfield win in the MAAC tournament championship game.

To the point, Rees was enthused with the effort of sophomore goalkeeper Matt Cleveland, who stepped into the goal after senior Jon Paul Francini was sidelined following a collision on Friday night. Cleveland rose the occasion today as he did Friday night, making six saves and keeping the defense honest over the 110-minute outing against the Peacocks.

"Matt provided us with a strong effort today," Rees said. "He showed patience today which allowed him to put together a solid game. He kicked well and distributed well, and gave us a lift defensively today."

Cleveland was tested early by the Saint Peter's offense, and not all of the attack came from inside the box. The Peacocks outshot Fairfield by 7-1 count in the first half, but several of those shots were attempts from 20 yards away and did not test the sophomore. However, Lebo Pila gave Cleveland his biggest test of his young career when he released a shot from 22 yards from goal. Cleveland elevated and touched the ball over the cross bar for a brilliant save that kept the game scoreless.

 Fairfield's first half opportunity came in the closing minutes when Sam Bailey volleyed a shot from 15 yards that forced Saint Peter's goalkeeper Matthew Lawlor to dive left in order to make the save.

The Stags stepped up their attack in the second half and quickly posted three shots in the first eight minutes of the half. Fairfield's pressure nearly paid off in the 73rd minute when Christian Uy found Sam Bailey in open space just to the left of the box. Bailey lofted a shot that went past Lawlor, but Pila cleared the ball off the line to keep the shutout intact.

Saint Peter's nearly won the game in overtime twice, the first coming in the 93rd minute. Murphy Wiredu curled the ball past Cleveland, but Jack Cleverley removed the ball from danger with a clear to the left side. The Peacocks nearly ended the game in the 98th minute, a play started by a pinpoint pass from Wiredu to leading scorer Juan Gaviria for a one-on-one opportunity. Gaviria got the ball on goal, but the shot kicked off the far post and was cleared by the Stags.

The second half did not provide any scoring chances, as the defense locked down in both ends and forced play more in the middle third of the pitch.

"I am very proud with our play over the weekend," Rees said. "They played just once and we played two without four starters. That called on our character as a team and the lads delivered with a win Friday and a tie against a 7-2 team today."

Fairfield returns to action on Friday when it battles Loyola College on the road. Game time is slated for 4 pm.