Oct. 31, 2006
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Regular-season success has become the norm for the Fairfield University men's soccer team. Regional and national rankings not to mention a number one seeding were a just reward for three weeks of pre-season camp and eight weeks of regular season play. Now, Head Coach Carl Rees and his lads will focus their attention on the next prize, a chance to earn a berth in the NCAA tournament by winning this week's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tourney.
Don't misunderstand Fairfield's goal of a conference tournament title as a dismissal of its previous success. Coach Rees knows that 12-win seasons, national poll placements, and regular-season titles do not come every year. But, he also knows that titles are not handed to you, and that the work ethic that the team carried throughout the campaign must continue if he and his team have any shot of earning the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA field.
In addition to Fairfield, the MAAC tournament includes second-seeded Niagara University (7-6-4 overall, 5-1-3 conference), third-seeded Saint Peter's College (9-7-2 overall, 6-3-0 conference), and fourth-seeded Loyola College (7-10-1 overall, 6-3-0 conference), making this year's pool one of the deepest in recent history.
The tournament begins on Thursday, November 2 with Niagara and Saint Peter's clashing at 4 pm. Fairfield will host Loyola following that match, with the game time listed at 7 pm. The two winners will face each other at 11 am on Sunday, November 5, a game which will be broadcast live on ESPNU. All games will be played at Lessing Field, located on the Fairfield University campus.
The Stags bring a 12-5-1 overall record, a 7-2 MAAC mark, and their second straight conference regular-season title into the tourney. Fairfield played one of its most challenging schedules this year, which started with top-five ranked West Virginia in the season-opener. The team also played two-time defending Ivy League champion Dartmouth College, Big East foe Pittsburgh, and another competitive slate of games against MAAC opponents.
Senior Alex Cunliffe leads the team in scoring with eight goals and two assists for 18 points, the sixth-highest single-season goal total in school history. Sam Bailey leads the team with four game-winning goals, his most recent coming in last Sunday's 2-0 win over Niagara on the road. The junior places second on the team with 12 points, netting four goals and four assists. Junior goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini posted the shutout against Niagara, his fourth shutout over the last 10 games. His 0.81 goals against average leads the conference in overall play.
Niagara secured the number two seed after going unbeaten through the first eight conference games (5-0-3), before losing its regular-season finale to Fairfield. The Purple Eagles have a quick-strike offense that scored three or more goals in four of their 17 games. Matt Stedman leads the team in scoring with 16 points, tallying six goals and four assists with one game-winning goal in 17 appearances. Kwame Oduro is not far behind with 15 points, comprised of a team-high seven goals and one assist. Freshman goalkeeper John Fiutowski has performed well in his first year, posting a 1.16 goals against average with a .795 save percentage (58 saves).
Saint Peter's earned their berth by defeating Loyola College in the last game of the season, a 1-0 road victory last Sunday. The Peacocks possess one of the conference's most dangerous scorers in Juan Gaviria. He tallied 14 goals in 18 games this year, and finished the regular-season with 31 points. Murphy Wiredu also reached double figures in scoring with 18 points, netting eight goals and two assists in 18 appearances. Goalkeeper Matthew Lawlor played most of the minutes this season, registering a 1.35 goals against average with 68 saves in 17 games.
Just like the other teams in the tournament, Loyola has a talented newcomer who made an impact throughout the season. Jamie Darvill earned several Rookie of the Week nods this year with his scoring ability, recording six goals and three assists for 15 points. Omar Alfonso is the only Greyhound with a better scoring total, collecting six goals and seven assists for 19 points. Justin Chelland had five shutouts with a 1.41 goals against average and 82 saves in his 16 games played this year.
