FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Head Coach Carl Rees stood at midfield following the Fairfield University men's soccer team victory over Quinnipiac University on Wednesday night and began ticking off traits that make good defenders.

"Determination, camaraderie, focus, intelligence, effort, and being able to sense danger all make a great defender," Coach Rees said. "I think we saw that tonight by several players. It was a tremendous effort by the group and I am really proud of how they played."

The defensive fortitude was even more evident midway through the second half when one Stag was sent off with a second yellow card, putting more pressure on the back line and goalkeeper as Quinnipiac took advantage by putting constant pressure in the final third. With each push, Fairfield's defense held ground and did not relent against an aggressive attack that put 11 shots toward goal with five requiring intervention from goalkeeper William Marment and the backs.

Quinnipiac had three point-blank opportunities in the second half with three different Stags making the play to keep the ball out of the net. First, Marment made a reflexive save that started with a cross into the box which was sent toward the far post with approximately 20 minutes remaining in the second half. He dove hard to his right and deflected the ball away from danger on a shot that came within a couple yards from goal.

Nadav Zarmi was next to step for the Stags, a substation that Coach Rees inserted at the start of the second half. After a scramble in front of the net proved perilous for the Stags, a Bobcat forward sent the ball toward the far corner again, but this time Zarmi stayed on the line with positive results by turning away what appeared to be a certain goal.

With two minutes remaining on the clock, Rom Wasserman looked as though he would tie the game when he sent the ball toward a open left side of the goal only to be denied by an outstanding play from Cormac Pike, who put his body in front of the shot and made sure it stayed away from the net.

"The collective defending when you are a man down was very good," Coach Rees said. "In those situations, you have to stay compact and keep the ball in front. You have to track your runners and watch your blind side. We fought for everything tonight and came out with the win."

All of those defensive stops were to preserve a lead that the Stags were able to earn in the first half when Rasmus Sorensen Rejnhold delivered his sixth goal of the season. Thomas Drillien started the opportunity when his initial shot was blocked with the carom being directed right at Sorensen Rejnhold. The freshman released a shot into the left corner of the goal to put the Stags in front in the 34^th minute.

Marment finished the game with seven saves to earn his second shutout of the season. After both teams were even with seven shots each in the first half, Quinnipiac held an 11-2 advantage in attempts over the final 45 minutes.

The Stags will travel to Canisius College on Saturday for their final regular-season road game before returning for the regular-season finale against Marist College on Wednesday, November 3 at Lessing Field.