Box Score ORONO, Maine – The first game was a test for the young Stags as they played arguably the best defensive team they will face all year. Although the squad came on the wrong side of the scoreboard, falling to Maine 1-0, there were many positives for the season opening game.
“We felt that the game was a tale of two halves,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “We cannot come out without the energy and intensity of our opponent until we went down a goal and started the second half. It was needed for 90 minutes.”
With six Stags (0-1) making their first career start, the defense was challenged early by an experienced and aggressive Maine (1-0) squad. During the first 45 minutes, the Black Bears out-shot the Stags 10-2. The style of play that featured long passes forced the Fairfield defense to step up. They did: all but once.
America-East First Team selection Charlene Achille found the back of the net, after receiving a pass from Kaitlin Saulter at the top of the box. Achille was able to convert her wide open attempt, by sliding the ball past an out-stretched Jenna Pike. That put the home team up 1-0, which would be the score at halftime.
“The Maine defense was solid,” O'Brien said. “They dominated our midfield with an aggressive style and the back line was able to match the speed of our attacking players. Their goalkeeper was outstanding and communicated with her team.”
Fairfield's defense did a great job locking down every other attempt that Maine threw at them. Alana Leahy stopped the first Maine chance, by running down a long pass near the line, and was able to twist past the striker, not only saving a shot but also a corner kick. Maggie Walsh cleared a cross that was destined for the top of the penalty area, by kicking the pass which had sailed behind her. Finally, Pike came up with the biggest save of the opening stanza. The sophomore dove to her left to deflect a free kick that went untouched towards the net.
Pike's performance strengthened in the second half. Pike made three straight saves in the closing stanza, highlighted by a diving deflection off a lofted shot to her right. Pike finished with a career-high six saves.
“Our defense was very solid,” O'Brien said. “Although we conceded shots, few were dangerous. Jenna matched her counterpart with two outstanding saves. I am confident that Jenna will emerge as a top flight Division I goalkeeper as she grows and develops under the guidance of our goalkeeper coach Kathleen Early.”
On the offensive side, the Stags' chances were turned away by Maine's goalkeeper Claudia Dube-Trempe, the reigning America-East Goalkeeper of the Year, as she finished with two saves. Dube-Trempe affected the Stags' offense in more ways than just stopping shots. During the second half, Fairfield created two chances by playing nice through balls to the box. Holly Habyan played a ball in the 71st minute where Dube-Trempe intercepted the groundball, right in front of a charging Emily Wieczorek. In the 80th minute, the goalkeeper stopped another opportunity by clearing a ball from Brenna Brown which was destined to Cassidy Boegel inside the penalty area.
Freshman Jenny Jacobs had the best opportunity of the game, coming in the first half. The speedy freshman ran past her defender and struck the ball towards the net, forcing Dube-Trempe to make a diving stop to her right.
Elena Santos created a chance you would not see in the box score. The freshman dribbled by her defender towards the flag and directed a cross right near the goal. This chance was stopped however, by two Main defenders right in front of the net.
Aside from those chances, the Stags struggled with timing their runs. Fairfield was whistled for eight offside violations, five in the first half.
In total, the Stags were out-shot 19-4, with Fairfield attempting two shots in each half.
The Stags are back in action on Sunday, as they conclude play in the Maine Black Bear Invitational, as they take on Wagner at 11am.
