FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Leaving early from tonight's Fairfield University men's soccer game was like leaving the dinner table before dessert was served. The first 80 minutes of the game were like the appetizer as the Stags whetted the appetites of fans with precision execution and creativity in the final third. The final 10 minutes of regulation were the main course, giving fans a tying goal with in the 82nd minute. And the overtime, well that was the dessert as
Ryan Ruff tallied the game winner with less than two minutes left in the second overtime, lifting Fairfield to a 2-1 win over Monmouth University.
And the cherry on top of that dessert came with the Stags' clinching a spot in the 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament with the victory, guaranteeing Fairfield will play beyond next Wednesday's final regular season game against league leading Rider University at Lessing Field.
"It's (scoring late) habit forming," Head Coach
Carl Rees said after the game. "They are the comeback kids. It's been happening since we beat Lafayette in early September. It's just a credit to the character of the group. I'm proud to be part of it."
Games at Lessing Field have been thrilling to say the least especially the last three results. In addition to tonight's result, the Stags scored the game winner against Saint Peter's with 1:33 remaining in regulation, and tied the Siena game with 40 seconds left in regulation. Four of Fairfield's six home games have gone to overtime with Fairfield owning a 2-1-1 record in the those games, Coupled with two regulation wins at home, the Stags are riding high at Lessing Field with a 4-1-1 record.
"There's something special about playing here," Rees said. "It starts with the fans and how they stick by this team from start to finish. It was another great atmosphere tonight."
For most of the game, both teams were able to attack and penetrate into the final third but had little success bringing the ball into the box. Each attempt was usually met with a defensive push that forced attackers to retreat or pass the ball back to the midfield. And when a shot was attempted, it was usually blocked or forced wide by a pesky defender. Only one of the first 19 shots was on goal and that required full extension by Monmouth goalkeeper Bobby Edwards.
Ben Wignall was the attacker on the play as he was fed the ball on a back pass which set him up in free space about 20 yards from goal. The senior unleashed a shot that look as though it might catch the upper part of the goal but Edwards was able to just get his fingertips on the ball and push it over the cross bar.
But in theory, you need only one shot on goal if that shot finds the back of the net. And Monmouth certainly put that theory to the test when it scored on its first shot on goal in the 68th minute of play. The Hawks sent a ball into the box from the far corner which a Fairfield defender was able to deflect with a header. Unfortunately for the Stags, Colin Stripling rose above his defender and sent the ball back to the goal with a header that resulted in the game's first goal.
Trailing by a goal, Fairfield began to play with urgency. Rees changed the framework of his 11 players on the field and those changes began to pay off as the collective began to create more chances. The pressure finally offered the opportunity that Fairfield had hoped for when Eirik Anderson sent a shot toward the far corner of the goal which was deflected back into play.
Angus Hastings never let the ball fall to the floor because he sent the ball back with a header that had just enough energy to cross the line and tie the game at 1-1.
While most would have been satisfied with the draw, Rees and his lads have become insatiable when overtime presents itself. Tonight was not any different as Fairfield continued to play with urgency through the extra time.
With time winding down in the second overtime, Rees turned to his bench once again and pointed to
Austin Capasso, who had one appearance on the season. The midfielder was in the seconds about 30 seconds when his number was called. He took control of a ball on the left flank and worked his way around two defenders, using his body to shield and create space inside the box.
He finally released the ball with a cross to the right side of the box where freshman
Ryan Ruff was unmarked about 10 yards from goal. Ruff touched the ball off to his right and hit a shot that didn't stop until it was stopped by the back of the net with just over one minute remaining.
"Putting Austin in the game was just a gut feeling," Rees said. "It was his time as it was for Ryan. Capasso is the kind of guy who comes to training and keeps his head down and does what is needed. He was like fresh air for us tonight. He carved something out of nothing."
Being able to pull quality student-athletes off the bench is so important at this time of year. Rees knows how fortunate he is to have a bench that is steady and reliable.
"It's that time of the season where teams are like the walking wounded," Rees said. "If it's not physical fatigue, it's mental fatigue. It's great to have a full deck to count on. We shuffle and we shuffle and see what works. It's great as a coach to be able to paint with a full palette. This is where memories are made."
Rees hopes more memories are in store for this group as they head into the final days of the regular season. The Stags will head to Niagara on Saturday for a 7 pm game before returning home for Rider on November 1.
