Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Nothing like waiting until the final seconds to make it interesting, but Head Coach Carl Rees will gladly accept that type of tension if the result is a win. And that's exactly what the men's soccer team gave Rees a 3-2 victory as the Stags scored in the final minute of regulation and followed with a goal in the first overtime. The decision extended the team's winning streak to three games and kept it unbeaten in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play at 2-0.

The Broncs started the game quickly with a goal at the 10-minute mark as Dan Friga scored off a set play. David Benavidez and Brenden Noesges picked up assists on the play. That's the way the half ended depsite Fairfield outshooting the home team by a 5-3 count over the first 45 minutes.

The one-goal edge remained intact until freshman Jorday Ayris tied the game in the 69th minute, heading the ball into the goal after a stellar cross from Keaton Cristobal. Rider regained control when Friga and Noesges combined for a goal at 83:48, giving the Broncs what appeared to be the final edge late in the game.

Fairfield refused to surrender though and continued to push forward with a strong attack. The pressure eventually paid off with 56 seconds left in regulation. Jack Burridge took a pass from Ryan Perkins and beat Broncs' goalkeeper Jason Giordano to the far side the tying goal. Rider had twice as many shots in the second half, but Fairfield was able to connect on two of its four shots to tie the game at 2-2.

In overtime, Fairfield had both shots attempted in the first nine minutes but it was the second shot that counted. Jon Clements started the offensive opportunity with a cross into the box. Daniel Shaw collected the cross and pushed a shot past Giordano with 1:24 remaining in the first overtime.

Goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe made three saves for the Stags, while Giordano finished the contest with three saves including one in overtime.

The Stags will recover from its five-week road trip that started after they hosted Columbia University on September 2. Fairfield currently owns a 3-3 record in away games this season, and could have had two more road contests had it not been for the inclement weather and flooding that forced the cancellation of the Mayor's Cup in Oneonta, N.Y.

Fairfield will play a pair of home games next weekend when it welcomes Canisius College on Friday night at 7 pm, followed by Niagara University on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.