The Fairfield University women’s soccer team rallied from a 2-0 second half deficit to earn a 2-2 double overtime tie with visiting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Loyola College.  With the tie the Stags record moves to 10-6-3 overall and 5-1-2 in league play, while the Greyhounds are now 7-5-5 on the year and 4-0-4 in conference action.

The tie gives Fairfield 17 points in league play, currently good for second place.  That total also secures the Stags a spot in the MAAC Tournament, Nov. 9-11 at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  The Red Foxes defeated Niagara Friday night to clinch a berth, as did Loyola with the tie at Fairfield.  The final spot will go to Siena or Niagara who play on Sunday in Loudonville, N.Y.  The winner will qualify, or Siena will advance in the event of a tie.

The Greyhounds seemed to have the game put away when Lea Day scored unassisted in the 57th minute for a 2-0 lead.  Loyola had not allowed a goal in 747 minutes of league action to that point.

Janna Breitenwischer started the comeback, and ended the Loyola streak seven minutes later at 66:04.  She took a cross from Casey Frobey, from just outside the box on the near side and knocked it home inside the far post.   The teams continued their back and forth play over the next 15 minutes until Alex Caram took the ball on the near side.  She dribbled across the box and put the ball home to the far side for a 2-2 tie.

Both teams had chances in the overtime periods, with Loyola out shooting Fairfield 4-3 in the two periods.  The best chance came midway through the first overtime when Ahna Johnson got a step on her defender.  She tried to push the shot to the inside of the Loyola keeper, but she got her right hand on the ball.  Johnson controlled the rebound on the endline and hit the post with her second shot.

Fairfield controlled play for the most part in the first half, out shooting Loyola 8-4, 5-2 on goal, and collecting six corner kicks.  The Greyhounds countered smartly several times, including earning a corner opportunity in the 29th minute.  Lina Staropoli served the ball inside the box, where Christina Gomez used her head to knock it home, just inside the near post.

The Stags had their chances, the best of them coming with just 50 seconds to play in the first half, when Johnson drilled a ball from 14-yards out off the near post.  Minutes before the Greyhound tally the Stags had a ball deflected high by Brittany Henderson and followed that shortly later with a shot that was inches wide as Henderson slid towards the post.  The Greyhounds keeper made five saves in the first half as well to stymie the Stags offensive attack.

The Stags out shot their visitor 22-13 in the game and 11-5 in the second half.  Henderson finished with 13 saves for the Greyhounds.  Brett Maron minded the net for the entire game for the Stags, making six saves, including three in the first overtime period to keep the game alive.

The Stags close out the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 4 when they host Rider at 1 p.m. on Lessing Field.  Prior to the contest the Stags will honor the five members of their senior class.