Oct. 22, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- There was a changing of the guard at Lessing Field on Sunday afternoon. The Fairfield University community celebrated the career of the Stags' five senior players - Mike Calabrese, Alex Cunliffe, Robbie Gallina, Jimmy Gaughan, and Mike Troy - so it was only appropriate that a senior passed the torch to a freshman in Fairfield's 1-0 win over Rider University.
Just 10 minutes into the game, Sam Bailey made a run down the left flank and cut toward the goal once he reached the box. Bailey drew a defender before he sent a cross to the far post. Cunliffe volleyed the cross back toward the center of the box, a perfect pass to freshman Christian Uy who made a run toward goal. Uy never let the ball hit the ground as he used his right foot to redirect the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Fairfield made several more runs in the first half, mostly off corner kicks and long crosses from the corner. Each team, a Fairfield player would get a head on the cross, but the ball sailed high or wide on several occasions.
Rider stepped up its offensive pressure in the second half, but Fairfield goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini kept the Broncs off the scoreboard. Tim Jones had a scoring chance from 10 yards that Francini deflected wide of the goal with a diving save. Adam Bailey came off the bench and developed two more scoring chances that forced Francini to make plays in order to keep the game at 1-0.
Francini finished the game with five saves as the Stags held a slight 13-10 advantage in shots. Rider outshot the Stags by a 6-4 count in the second half, most of which came in the final 10 minutes.
