Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Erik Ilisije finished a scoring chance in the 101st minute to lift the Fairfield University men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Yale University at Lessing Field. Ilisijie tied the game with 20 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Stags and Bulldogs played a steady first half, each applying pressure when the opportunity presented itself. Yale had the only real scoring chance of the half and capitalized on it in the 29th minute. Eric Meyer took a corner kick from the far corner which landed at the feet of Andy Shorten. He unleashed a shot that touched the cross bar and landed over the goal line for a 1-0 Yale lead.
Fairfield stepped up the pressure in the second half, beginning with a chance just two minutes into the half. Ilisije was given a chance in the middle of the box but Yale goalkeeper Bobby Thalman made the save. Just four minutes later, Matthew Uy sent a long ball into the box, where Ilisije one-timed a pass to Jonathan Kaufman, who was unmarked at eight yards. The senior hit a volley that sailed wide to keep the game at 1-0.
Jon Clements nearly tied the game when he ran down a ball to the far side of the box and sent a cross over the goalkeeper, exposing an empty net. A Yale defender managed to get his foot on the ball before a Stag could get to the cross, keeping the home team off the scoreboard.
Clements nearly tied the game himself when Jack Burridge drove a pass from 40 yards out to the freshman. The forward broke free and took a shot, but Thalman was equal to the task.
Just a minute later, Fairfield tied the game when Rutledge took a shot from 20 yards away that hit the cross bar and came back to the center of the box. Ilisije rose above his defender and put the ball into the upper corner with a header, tying the score at 1-1.
Rutledge nearly set up the game-winner with three minutes left on the clock. He pushed a cross to Rodrigues, who ran unmarked down the right side before cutting toward the goal. He hit a shot before the ball came to the ground, past the goalkeeper, and just over the cross bar.
In the first overtime, Peter Jacobsen nearly won the game when he accepted a pass from Shorten on the left side. He put a shot toward the lower right corner, but Fairfield goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe dove and made the stop. A minute later, Shorten ran toward a loose ball in the box, but O'Keeffe won the race and cradled the ball before the Yale forward could get off a clean shot.
The Stags wasted little time in the second overtime as the Stags took advantage of an errant Yale back pass. Rodrigues secured the ball and chipped the ball over Ilisije's defender as the Stag senior made a run toward goal. He controlled the ball 12 yards from goal, moved a two yards closer and pushed a shot past an on-rushing Thalman for the game-winner.
For the third straight game, Fairfield outshot its opponent, holding an 11-8 edge over Yale. Both goalkeepers finished the game with four saves.
The Stags return to action on Saturday when they host the University of Massachusetts at Lessing Field. Game time is slated for 2 pm.
