FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Comeback victories can show so much about a team and how it can overcome adversity, especially early in a season. So one can certainly understand the glint in Head Coach
Carl Rees' eye when he walked across the pitch after watching his team concede a goal in the
78th minute but rally to win a 2-1 overtime decision over Lafayette College at Lessing Field. The comeback win was the team's second of the season, also erasing a late 1-0 deficit with a pair of goals in the closing minutes to defeat Oregon State.
"All of our games have been productive and all of them have been difficult" Rees said after the match. "But these types of games help you find out about yourself. You can call it what you want, but it all comes down to character,
resiliency, and commitment. I am really delighted for this team."
Tonight's game was the home opener and neither the fans nor the lads disappointed one another. Both sides went away
jubilant as a stadium filled with students and fans provided the encouragement while the team provided the win. And in the end, it was freshman Don-Junior
Bobe who finished off the game with his second goal of the season, taking a cross from Ben
Wignall in the
95th minute and one-timing a shot past the goalkeeper. But
Bobe was only one of tonight's contributors to the win, as several teammates made plays that kept victory well within reach.
To be honest, this game looked like it was going to go into overtime throughout the game but it would be of the scoreless variety. Each team had chances but brilliance by both goalkeepers kept the game scoreless for most of the evening. Early in the game, sophomore
Joseph Meyer seemed alert and poised to make a difference. The midfielder launched a couple of shots, one in the
18th minute and another in the
30th minute, which seemed destined for the back of the net. But Brad
Seeber made a save on the first shot but turning the ball to the side of the goal, while Brian Ehrlich, who came into the game in the
21st minute, grabbed the second attempt by Meyer.
Perhaps the best scoring chance of the night wound up being unsuccessful as
Ben Wignall nearly gave Fairfield a one-goal edge at the end of the first half. The senior unleashed a shot from the top of the box and seemed destined for the top corner. However, Ehrlich made an acrobatic stop that resulted in the ball sailing just over the cross bar.
Fairfield goalkeeper
Jack Robinson was equally in sync throughout the night, making a pair of saves in both halves and playing aggressively off his line to keep several crosses away from danger. The senior received a big boost from classmate
Angus Hastings in the
54th minute. Ryan
Goncalves appeared to send his team into the lead when his shot skipped past Robinson and was on line for the far corner. Hastings slid across the center of the box and kicked the ball away from the goal which kept the game scoreless.
But as entertaining as the scoreless game was, the contest became down right thrilling over the final 13 minutes of play. That stretch of the game was kick started when Chris Gomez put the Leopards in front with a header that beat the goalkeeper to the far side, a chance that was set up by a stellar cross from Josh
Koval from the left box to the far post. With the game winding down, Fairfield stepped up its pressure in the final third and began to see dividends.
With just over five minutes remaining in regulation, a Fairfield player was pulled down inside the box which resulted in the referee awarding a penalty kick. Wignall stepped over the ball and calmly placed the ball into the corner of the goal to tie the game at 1-1.
From that point, Fairfield has the most opportunity, especially at the end of regulation. But smart play from Ehrlich kept the game at 1-1 and eventually sent the game into overtime.
Fairfield earned the win with a strong attacking game that kept pressure on the Lafayette defense. It was that pressure that resulted in a failed clear attempt which would benefit Wignall. After collecting the ball, he drew a defender and sent a pass toward the far post. Bobe sprinted toward the ball, arrived first, and pushed a shot that ended that game at 94:42.
Robinson finished the night with four saves, facing nine shots in his 94-plus minutes of work.
The Stags will return to the pitch on Friday, September 8 at Hartwick College, the first of two games that the team will play in Oneonta. Fairfield will finish the weekend against Robert Morris on the final day of the Mayor's Cup Tournament.
