Nov. 11, 2006
STORRS, Conn. -- Senior Jimmy Gaughan scored the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute of the game, lifting the 23rd-ranked Fairfield University men's soccer to a 2-1 win over the University of Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The victory sends the Stags to a second-round match up with Towson University on Wednesday, November 15. The NCAA tournament victory was the first ever for any Fairfield University team.
The Stags never trailed in the game, executing their game plan to perfection by doing exactly what brought them to this point. Fairfield's defense frustrated the Huskies during the course of the game by deflecting shots and making slide tackles which took the ball off an attacker's feet. The trio of Mike Troy, Tom Skara, and Tom Clements anchored the Stags in the back and prevented several dangerous chances from turning into goals.
Fairfield's first chance came in the sixth minute of the game when Steve Desmond collected a loose ball in the center of the offensive zone, and struck the ball to the lower left side of the goal which was stopped by Matt Sangeloty with a diving save.
UConn's O'Brian White played an outstanding game for the Huskies, and created several scoring opportunities for himself as well as for his teammates. On back-to-back possessions, White's footwork nearly resulted in a goal. He outran his defender on a long ball from the UConn defensive end which he gathered 35 yards from goal and broke for a one-on-one with goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini. Francini came off his line and cut down White's angle, resulting in a save off a shot to the right side. White nearly scored once again with a shot from 12 yards center, but Mike Lentine's slide deflected the ball before it had a chance to get to goal.
Fairfield tallied the game's first goal with a sharp play from Kerr McLeod. The sophomore pushed a ball to the left side of the box, which Christian Uy tracked down just inside the 18-yard line. Uy drew Sangeloty off the line and chipped a ball that caught the far corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead. UConn nearly tied the game when Akeem Priestley launched a shot from the top of the box that Troy sent away with a header to keep the ball out of danger.
UConn used its athleticism and speed to become much more aggressive in the second half. The Huskies' execution was nearly flawless over the first eight minutes of the second half setting up several opportunities. But it was a play that required no passing or footwork that tied the game for UConn when Julius James received a ball at 25 yards, and surprised everyone by sending a shot toward the upper right corner. Francini made a diving effort to his left, but the ball was placed perfectly into the corner for a goal and a 1-1 tie. The goal halted Fairfield's scoreless minute streak at 323 minutes, the first goal it allowed since a 1-0 overtime loss to Canisius in late October.
The Stags nearly took the lead in the 67th minute thanks to a terrific ball by Alex Cunliffe that he struck from central midfield to the left corner of the box. Sam Bailey tracked the pass down and lofted a shot over a charging Sangeloty. The ball caromed off the far post just past Uy who was rushing toward goal for a follow up.
UConn's Euan Holden nearly put the home team in front when he played a ball from eight yards, dribbling once and sending a hard shot toward the far corner. Francini deflected the shot, then covered the loose ball to prevent any further damage.
The game changed off a defensive counter that found Mike Lentine with ball about 25 yards from goal. He pushed a through ball to Jimmy Gaughan, who beat all defenders and tucked the ball under Sangeloty for a 2-1 Fairfield lead. UConn applied pressure over the final seven minutes, but each time the Stags' defense kept the ball away from the goal.
Francini made seven saves in the game to help secure the win. Sangeloty tallied two saves as Fairfield was outshot by a 19-5 count, including a 12-2 margin in the second half.
The Stags will travel to 15th-seed Towson University on Wednesday for a second-round game. Game time is scheduled for 2 pm.
