FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The first goal of the 2019 season for the Fairfield University Women's Soccer team is one that Stephanie Tsangaris won't soon forget. With three minutes left in the second overtime, the sophomore got by her defender and rolled a slow roller to the right side of the net that caught Colgate's goalkeeper leaning and gave the Stags a 1-0 victory in their 2019 season opener.
 
"I just remember running past her and I'm like 'my back is towards the goal,'" Tsangaris said. "I was on my left foot which is my strong foot and then went to the right and didn't know what was going to happen. I kicked it and it was really slow and I didn't know if it was going to go in. But it was a great moment, probably one of the best moments I ever had."
 
The Stags (1-0) took the final three shots of the contest and did not allow a shot attempt since the opening minute of the first overtime period when Sage DiGiulio's attempt was caught by goalkeeper Gena Pike. Fairfield nearly ended the game two minutes prior to Tsangaris' heroics when Shannon Ryan misfired on a shot that just went wide.
 
While the Stags were out-shot in the box score (24-11), the defensive display by the team was one of the strongest performances they have had in some time. With a completely new back four, freshmen Josie Horosky and Olivia Homan combined with transfer Kelsey Gilbert to keep the Raider (0-1) off the board and without too many good chances. Gabby Diodati anchored the backline in her new move to the defensive front, holding Colgate at bay.
 
The Raiders, who finished 7-1-1 in Patriot League play last season, did get a few good looks at goal, but all were turned aside by the first half play of Aytana Muschajew and highlighted by the 62 minute performance of Gena Pike. In her first collegiate game, Pike made a game-high five saves, none more impressive that a highlight reel double save, stopping two point-blank shots back-to-back. Pike recorded two more saves in the final two minutes of regulation to bring the game into overtime.
 
"I think our freshmen stood really tall," Head Coach David Barrett said. "Josie did great, Olivia did great, playing their first college game. I thought Kelsey Gilbert was fantastic and really set the tone in the first half and was really solid the whole game. Gena did a great job and Aytana was solid in the first half. We're a little raw and a little rough around the edges in the final third but we're going to compete. Getting some belief with these girls is really important too."
 
The Stags had a balanced offensive attack with eight players combining for the 11 shot attempts, with Brooke Hernon leading the group with three. Her best chance came in the 52^nd minute as she broke free from the line but a defender was able to sneak in and stop the break to keep the game scoreless.
 
"I think everything is paying off," Tsangaris said. "We've been here since August 5^th and everything we put into this team has paid off. We're all fit and we've prepared for this all August and I think it has really paid off."
 
"It's a good starting point, it's not a finishing point by any stretch of the imagination," Barrett said. "It gives Josie and Olivia confidence, gives Gena confidence and that's what we want to do. We held our own and the mistakes we made weren't glaring. We need to be a little more refined in the final third but we'll give some problems to teams as we go forward and get better."
 
The Stags next chance to get better will come against UConn as they take on the Huskies on Sunday at 6pm at Al-Marzook Field at Alumni Stadium in West Hartford, Conn.