Waipahu, O'ahu – If the first match is any indication of how a season can go, then there will be many exciting moments to come for Fairfield University Women's Soccer this fall.
Julia McGuire looped in her first collegiate goal in the second overtime period to give the Stags a 2-1 victory over the reigning Southland Champions Houston Baptist to open up the 2017 season on the island of O'ahu. The score gave the Stags a much deserved win after coming back from a 1-0 deficit with a goal from freshman
Alex Madden, also her first career tally.
The Stags (1-0) got the first real chance of the match as the ball dropped behind the goalkeeper, but the Huskies (0-1) recorded the first of two defensive saves they would have in the contest. Houston Baptist, a 2016 NCAA Tournament participant, would take the first lead of the year when they converted a failed clearance by the Stags' defense and Ellee Hall flung the ball over the goalkeeper to take the 1-0 advantage.
It took the Stags just five minutes to draw equal as
Alex Madden got by the Huskies' backline on a tapped pass from
Faith Daley and finished in the top right of the goal to notch the match at 1-1. That was just a segment of an impressive performance by the freshman from England who finished with a match-high six shots, five of which were on goal.
Despite out-shooting the Huskies 16-6 in regulation, the Stags would need overtime to decide the match. Fairfield almost tallied a late goal in the 85th minute when Madden got by the goalkeeper, but still had three defenders in front of her and one member of the backline was able to slide to keep the ball in front of the line.
The Stags recorded three shots in the second overtime period, but obviously none more important than
Julia McGuire's attempt in the 102nd minute. The sophomore touched the ball just outside the box on the left side and was able to loop a shot to the other side of the net and the ball found the back of the goal to start the celebration.
Fairfield dominated for most of the game, finishing with a 19-7 shot advantage and a 7-2 mark in corner kicks.
Megan DeFeo recorded her first career overtime win by making three saves in the contest. Most of those stops came in key situations including diving to stop a charging striker in the first half and stopping a long possession by the Huskies in the first overtime.
Fairfield will conclude their stay in Hawaii when they take on the host University of Hawaii on Sunday at 11 p.m. EST (5 p.m. on the island).
