Oct. 20, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Head Coach Carl Rees watched his 15th-ranked men's soccer team do everything it could to beat Loyola in a key Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game Friday night. He witnessed Fairfield outshoot its opponent by a 10-4 count. He saw the Stags force five corner kicks without yielding any to the Greyhounds. The home team controlled the ball for most of the game, holding a clear advantage in possession time. The only advantage Loyola held in the game was on the scoreboard, and that's the one that counts the most.
Josh Taylor found a seam in the Fairfield defense that resulted in a one-on-one opportunity, which he quickly turned into a goal for a 1-0 Loyola win at Lessing Field. The decision also ended Fairfield's 15-game regular-season conference unbeaten streak (14-0-1). After Taylor's goal, Loyola played solid defense that only surrendered a few scoring chances over the final 56 minutes of the game.
The game's only goal came in the 35th minute when Loyola used a quick counter that started with Omar Alfonso sending the ball down the left flank to Jamie Darvill. Darvill and Taylor had only one defender between them and Fairfield goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini. Darvill drew the defender and sent a cross to the right side of the box. Taylor controlled the ball, took two steps, and released a shot that beat Francini low left. The ball hit the post and ricocheted back into the other side of the goal.
Fairfield had a few opportunities to tie the game, with senior Mike Troy creating two of those chances. In the first half, Kerr McLeod pushed the ball through to the right side of the box. Troy secured the pass and unleashed a shot that glanced off the near-side post and out of play.
Later in the half, Fairfield was awarded a free kick from 20 yards away. Alex Cunliffe rolled the ball toward the center toward Sam Bailey, who kicked a low shot that started on goal, but just curved wide of the near post.
Troy nearly tied the game in the second half when Bailey made a run down the left flank and cut in toward goal. He sent a cross into the center of the box that was kicked around before landing in front of Troy. The defender chose the upper corner of the net, but the ball sailed over the cross bar.
Francini finished the game with one save, while Justin Chelland made three saves to secure the shutout for Loyola. Fairfield returns to action against Rider University on Sunday, with game time slated for 1 pm. The seniors will be honored prior to the contest, as they play their final regular-season home game.
