Sept. 26, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Aldo Hope converted a cross from Paul McQuade just 90 seconds into overtime, providing the Fairfield University men's soccer team with a 2-1 come-from-behind win against Dartmouth College. The victory improved the Stags' home regular-season unbeaten streak to 11 games (8-0-3), dating back to the 2004 regular-season finale.
Dartmouth jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the second minute of the game when Mark Limpert sent a ball from the left box, which Daniel Keat redirected to the lower right corner to push the Big Green in the lead.
It didn't take long for Fairfield to score the equalizer, just over four minutes to be exact. A Fairfield player was pulled down just outside the box, giving the Stags a free kick from the center of the pitch. Alex Cunliffe and Sam Bailey set up on the ball, but it was Cunliffe who went forward with the shot. The ball went around the wall set up in the middle of the box, and beat Dartmouth goalkeeper to the right corner to tie the score.
The Stags almost grabbed the lead before half time, courtesy of good foot work by Paul McQuade. The freshman took control of the ball at the top of the box, dribbled left and spun off his defender to release a shot that headed for the upper right corner, but it caught the cross bar and bounced over the goal.
Early in the second half, Cunliffe sent a through ball to Mike Calabrese at the top right corner of the box. Calabrese took possession and moved a few yards toward goal before sending a shot on goal that Sean Milligan collected. With 24 minutes remaining in regulation, Steve Desmond had an opportunity from 15 yards, but a great save by Milligan kept the game tied.
The Stags nearly tallied the go-ahead goal six minutes later when a corner kick provided Cunliffe with a point-blank shot which Milligan knocked away. Tom Skara and Tom Clements followed up with shots inside eight yards, but two Dartmouth defenders knocked the ball off the line.
Dartmouth nearly won the game in regulation after Keat went down the right touch line and crossed the ball into the box. Limpert one-timed the ball on goal, but Jon Paul Francini made the save. The shot kicked back to Limpert who sent an off-balanced shot back on goal, but again Francini was there for the save.
Cunliffe had two more opportunities in the final eight minutes, the first coming from 20 yards with a low-line drive shot that Milligan caught inches off the ground. The second chance came off a direct kick from the right corner that Cunliffe headed toward the corner, but Milligan dove sharply to his left and pushed the ball away.
Fairfield won the game in the 102 minute after McQuade caught up to a loose ball around 25 yards from goal, and quickly sent the ball left for Hope who was in full sprint. He released a shot in stride from 10 yards that caught the upper part of the net to end the game.
Francini made nine saves in the game for Fairfield, while Milligan ended the night with six saves.
