Oct. 4, 2006
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- If you scan the box score, you won't see Paul McQuade's name too often. Yet, the freshman played a significant role in the men's soccer team's 3-1 win over Yale University on Wednesday night. His aggressive play inside the box led to two penalty kicks which Alex Cunliffe converted into goals.
The Stags scored their first goal in the 18th minute when a long service to the top of the box sprung McQuaid for a scoring opportunity. He sent the ball forward with his head, but before he could take a step to control the ball, a Yale defender pulled down the freshman inside the box. Cunliffe calmly stepped to the ball for the penalty kick, and placed the ball perfectly into the lower left corner for a 1-0 lead.
The score remained at 1-0 for the remainder of the half, an advantage that the Stags carried into the second half. Yale started the second half the same way it played most of the first half - solid play in the corners that led to crosses into the box. Fairfield goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini came off the line often to control the flow inside the box, that is until Markus Jackson's cross that found James Stewart at the top of the box. Stewart lofted a shot over Francini, who charged toward Stewart but could not place hand on the attempt as the ball caught the upper corner of the goal.
Eight minutes later, Fairfield broke the tie when McQuade spun off two defenders to the left flank and sent a ball to the far right post. Christian Uy timed his run perfectly and volleyed a shot with his right foot that beat a flat-footed Yale goalkeeper to the near side.
Fairfield put the game out of reach in the 72nd minute with another aggressive play by McQuade. The freshman ran down a loose ball about 10 yards from the goal line, but was tackled as he made his move. The referee made the call and awarded Fairfield its second penalty kick of the night. Again, Cunliffe spotted the ball and released a shot that caught the corner once again for a 3-1 Stags lead.
Francini was credited with six saves, but many more crosses that kept the Stags out of danger. Yale outshot Fairfield in both halves for a total of 15-6. Bulldog goalkeeper Erik Geiger made one save in his 90 minutes of work.
