Oct. 1, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Never let it be said that Head Coach Carl Rees and his lads are superstitious. The Fairfield University men's soccer team improved its regular-season home unbeaten streak to 13 games (10-0-3), as junior Sam Bailey tallied the game-winning goal on the team's 13th shot of the game. Bailey won the game with just 33 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Stags posted the game-winning goal off a free kick that was sent into the box from the left side. The ball bounced off two players and into the air, allowing Bailey to put his head on the ball and redirect into the upper corner of the goal.
Both teams had opportunities in this game, with Fairfield outshooting Marist by a 13-5 margin. The Red Foxes put the ball inside the box several times during the second half, but the Stags defense quickly pounced on the ball and sent it out of danger.
Strong play by Marist goalkeeper Daniel Owens kept this game scoreless for as long as possible. He finished the game with seven saves, four of which came in the second half. The Stags best opportunity in the second half came in the 52 minute when Bailey accepted a well-placed pass to the right flank. Bailey cut toward goal and released a shot that Owens just put his hands on to keep the game scoreless.
In the first half, Alex Cunliffe almost put the Stags in front when he worked his way free about five yards from the goal. He took a shot as he was falling down on the wet turf, which slowly went wide. Mike Calabrese and Bailey converged on the ball, but it just crossed the goal line before either could send it back into play.
Jon Paul Francini made three saves in the second half, which helped the junior post his first career shutout. In the three games this week, Francini allowed just one goal in 250-plus minutes of work.
Fairfield finished its four-game home stand with a 3-0-1 record, which included a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victories. The Stags return to the road this week, including an intrastate match up with Yale University on October 4.
