FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- As the second ticked down in regulation, Head Coach
Carl Rees implored his men's soccer team to stay focused and keep in the game. With the box packed in with Siena defenders, the final minute of play did not offer many opportunities. For the third time this season, the Stags scored a goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation to tie or win a game. But this time, it was very dramatic as
Angus Hastings' cross with 40 seconds remaining in the second half was redirected by a defender into the Siena goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Five of Fairfield's goals in 2017 have come in the
80th minute or later, including two against Oregon State in a 2-1 win and two versus Lafayette in another 2-1 victory. But tonight, the Stags once again showed the resiliency that Coach Rees has spoken about on numerous
postgame interviews.Â
Both teams had few opportunities within 20 yards of the goal throughout the game, but part of the reason was aggressive play by the goalkeepers. Both Gordon
Botterill and
Aleksa Radosavljevic came off their line on several occasions to grab crosses or collect loose balls before an offensive player could get to the ball. In the first half, each team managed four shots but only one was on goal, which
Botterill turned away to keep the game scoreless at the end of the half.
Play seemed to open up more in the second half as the goalkeepers were still up to the task but the saves became more acrobatic as several shots seemed destined for the back of the net. On two occasions,
Botterill made two saves off shots that were redirected off deflections near the net, while
Radosavljevic was challenged on several occasions within a few yards of his goal. It was not until the
64th minute that one team finally found a way to break through. Siena's
Eamonn Conway made a run down the left flank and sent a pass that seemed harmless toward the center of the pitch. Alejandro
Riquelme found the ball and dribbled a few yards before releasing a shot that hit the bottom of the cross bar and caromed into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Fairfield pushed forward and made several runs that ended in frustration due to either a Siena defender breaking up the chance or the goalkeeper finding a way to stop the opportunity. With time for one last try, the Stags pushed into the offensive third and managed to send the ball from the right side to the left side of the pitch with a few crisp passes. Hastings was on the
receiving end of the final pass and the senior made a run toward goal. As he drew defenders, Hastings sent the ball into the center where several Fairfield players were trying to get to the ball. But a Siena defender got there first and tried to clear the cross. Instead, the ball ended up in the top corner of the Saints' goal, tying the score at 1-1 with 40 seconds remaining.
In overtime, Fairfield had the best chance to win the game when
Botterill sent a long punt to
Wignall who broke free from his defender and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, He sent a shot that looked like it would tuck inside the far corner of the goal, but it just ticked wide at last second which kept the game tied at 1-1.Â
The Stags return to Lessing Field on Wednesday, October 11 for a match with Saint Peter's with game time scheduled for 7 pm.
