FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe made four saves and the back four of Adam Cowen, Jean Fauchet, Jonny Raj, and Todd Rutledge kept any serious threats away from the box, resulting in the Fairfield University men's soccer team playing to a scoreless tie against the University of Massachusetts.

"This was our first clean sheet of the season," Head Coach Carl Rees said after the game. "I think that's a tribute to our back four, who kept us out of danger throughout the game. And when UMass did get through, Michael O'Keeffe stepped up and made the save. It was a great defensive effort."

The Stags had an advantage with time of possession and finished the game by outshooting UMass by a 9-8 count. It was the fourth straight game in which Fairfield recorded more shots than the opposition. 

Neither team mounted any offense in the first half, as only one shot was registered in the first 45 minutes. Cowen was credited with that shot when he made an attempt off a free kick from 20 yards away, but the shot never made it to the goalkeeper. The UMass wall blocked the shot and the defense cleared the ball.

UMass collected its first shot of the game in the 56th minute when Ben Arikian took advantage of a giveaway 20 yards from goal. He brought the ball into open space near the center of the box, but his shot was a few feet wide past the diving O'Keeffe. Three minutes later, the Minutemen put together the best offensive flurry of the game.

Off a cross to the box, Chris Gilbert secured the ball about 12 yards from goal. He hit a shot that caromed off the cross bar and came back to Arikian. He headed the rebound back toward goal, but O'Keeffe recovered nicely to make the save.

The Stags had an excellent chance  in the 78th minute as freshman Jon Clements and sophomore Nuno Rodrigues combined for a shot. Clements took the ball on the left side and pushed the ball forward toward the center of the box. Rodrigues made a nice back cut to goal and Clements sent the ball through the defense. Rodrigues released a shot on goal, but UMass goalkeeper Chris Piekos made a nice save to keep the game scoreless.

With seven minutes remaining in regulation, Rodrigues sent the ball into the box off a corner kick. Piekos went up to get the ball, but it sailed over his outstretched arms and into danger. No Fairfield player was able to get a header on it, sending the ball to the back of the box. Jon Kaufman tracked down the bouncing ball and volleyed a shot that was blocked by a UMass defender.

Jack Burridge nearly gave Fairfield a goal when he took control of the ball on left side of the box, about six yards from goal. He lofted a shot that was headed for the far corner, but Piekos caught the ball off his fingertips to thwart the opportunity.

Each time had a chance in the overtime periods. The Stags were awarded a free kick in the 95th minute, which Fauchet sent to the far post. Erik Ilisije dove toward goal, but could not get his foot on the ball as it cleared the end line.

UMass Bryant Chase found open space off a deflected ball and went on goal on a break. He pushed a shot to the lower corner, but O'Keeffe anticipated the shot and made the diving save .

Fairfield will play its fifth straight home game when it hosts Boston College on September 14 at Lessing Field. The game time is slated for 7 pm.