Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Fairfield University men's soccer team opened its 2011 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) schedule with a 2-1 win against Loyola University on Friday night. The Stags used a pair of first half goals to work out their conference win, and give the team its second straight victory.

The visitors secured the lead early by connecting on their first shot of the game. Freshman Jordan Ayris sent a ball through the Loyola defense and found Keaton Cristobal cutting toward the goal. The graduate student unleashed a shot from just inside the 18-yard box caught the corner of the far post, beating the Loyola goalkeeper and putting the Stags in front, 1-0.

Ayris completed the Fairfield scoring later in the half with a remarkable play. The freshman took control around midfield and carried the ball nearly 30 yards into the Loyola backfield. He struck the ball from just outside the box, a shot that spun past the goalkeeper in the 48th minute for a 2-0 advantage.

The Greyhounds applied pressure throughout the second half and spent a good part of the final 45 minutes on attack. Loyola outshot Fairfield by a 5-0 count in the second half, but it wasn't until late when the home team finally broke through. The Greyhounds were awarded a penalty kick with 17 minutes remaining in regulation after goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe was tangled up with an offensive player inside the box. Stephen Dooley finished off the opportunity to cut the lead in half.

Loyola continued to attack over the closing minutes, but Fairfield's defense was equal to the challenge and turned the Greyhounds away each time. The home team finished the game with a 10-5 advantage in shots, but O'Keeffe made two saves to earn the win for the Stags.

Fairfield finishes off its month-long road trip on Sunday when it heads to Rider University for an afternoon game.