Game Notes

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Another week and another nationally-ranked opponent for the Fairfield University men's soccer team as the Stags will head west for the 2012 Nike Lobo Invitational, hosted by the eighth=ranked University of New Mexico. The Stags will draw the host school on Friday at 9 pm (EST) followed by a match up with another Western Athletic Conference (WAC) school in the University of Denver on Sunday at 12:30 pm (EST).

It will mark the third team that Fairfield has played so far this season that has been listed in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national poll. The Stags fell to 14th-ranked Boston College on September 3 by a 1-0 score and by a 1-0 result against Northeastern University, which had received votes in the rankings.

New Mexico is yet another team that is on the national scene, ranking as high as third this season. The Lobos opened the year with a 3-2 win over second-ranked UCLA on the road, before falling in overtime at Tulsa by a 2-1 margin. Since that setback, the team has rattled off wins against #20 Southern Methodist University (3-1 score), #25 University of Alabama-Birmingham (2-0), Dartmouth College (3-2), and UC Irvine (2-1 OT).

Scoring goals has not proven to be too difficult for New Mexico, as it is tied for 17th in the nation with 2.33 goals per game. Devon Sandoval represents the team's top scorer so far, netting four goals and two assists for 10 points. Blake Smith is next in line with two goals and a team-high four assists. The Lobos has scored two or more goals in all but one game and three goals in three games.

Victor Rodriguez has procured the most minutes in the New Mexico goal, playing 380 minutes and registering a 0.95 goals against average with a .667 save percentage. Patrick Poblete has logged 181 minutes and posted a 1.98 goals against average with a .714 save percentage.

Denver owns a 3-1-2 overall record and brings a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) into this weekend's action. The team comes off consecutive wins against Saint Louis, Presbyterian, and Oral Roberts. Denver outscored its opponents by a 9-2 count over that three-game stretch.

Josh Wren leads the team in scoring with nine points, tallying four goals and one assist with one game-winning goal. Zach Bolden is next in line with seven points, most of which comes from his team-best five assists. Oliver Brown has seen most of the minutes in the goal, recording 513 minutes with a 1.23 goals against average and a .731 save percentage. Nate Esler has secured 96 minutes of work in goal, resulting in a 0.94 goals against average with a .667 save percentage.

Fairfield played twice last week, beating Long Island University in overtime before falling to Northeastern University in overtime at home. It was the team's first overtime loss since the 2006 season when it came up short against Canisius College in late October. The Stags currently own a 1-1 record in extra time this season.

Reco McLaren remains the team's top scorer with two goals and four points, scoring his second goal of the season against Long Island last week. Tim West and George Newton are the only other Stags to score a goal this year as West netted the deciding goal against Long Island while Newton tallied the game winner versus Yale.

Michael O'Keeffe has been the only Fairfield goalkeeper to collect minutes this season with 470 over five games. He remains nationally-ranked in both goals against average at 0.57 (19th) and in save percentage at .870 (tied for 15th). He has two shutouts to his credit, keeping Columbia University and Yale University off the scoreboard this season.

After the New Mexico trip, the Stags will host the University of Rhode Island on September 29 at Lessing Field. Game time is slated for 7 pm. It will be the last home game for Fairfield until October 19, as the team will play at Brown (October 2), at Iona (October 6), at Saint Peter's (October 12), and at Manhattan (October 14).