FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Soccer goalkeeper Gena Pike contributed on both sides of the ball as she not only made six saves but also scored the game-tying goal with just 20 seconds remaining in a 1-1 draw to Sacred Heart on Sunday. The result is the first draw of the season for the Stags who now hold a 3-2-1 overall record.
 
"It's the same great feeling of being able to do something for your team that you didn't think you could," Pike said. "Being able to contribute is great and I'm just happy to come out with a result."
 
"That's not a play we've practiced," Head Coach David Barrett said. "We just wanted to bring everyone forward and hope for the best. We got lucky at the end but we'll take it and move forward."
 
Pike's score was her first collegiate goal and her first since scoring the game-winning goal in the North Jersey Non-Public B Championship Match, her final game in her high school career. Pike had some experience playing up front as a high school athlete as she would split time as a goalkeeper and a field player in the same game.
 
Pike's goal came in Fairfield's final push as the Stags forced a corner kick inside the final minute of regulation. Gabby Diodati presided over the corner kick and sailed it into the box where Pike was able to get a body on the ball and push it into the right side of the goal to force overtime.
 
Pike came up big in the overtime periods too as she recorded two saves within the first two minutes of extra time. The Stags would put the pressure on the Pioneers' defense for the rest of the overtime as Fairfield forced three shots that had to be cleared right from the goal line.
 
Off another corner kick, Brooke Hernon sent a service into the box where Lexi Lehan was able to get a foot and sent a shot towards the top part of the net. Sacred Heart's goalkeeper Elyssa Kipperman was able to leap and get her fingers on to lob the ball in the air and was later cleared by a defender. That opportunity came after a ball came out of the hands of a leaping Kipperman, which also needed clearance from the line.
 
The Stags were looking for the equalizer for the final 75 minutes of the game after giving up the first score in the 15th minute on a rebounded shot.
 
Fairfield out-shot the Pioneers 14-11 and forced Kipperman to make seven saves. Lehan forced a diving save from Kipperman in the first half on a right footed strike. Diodati also forced a quality save as her free kick sailed to the top half of the net where Kipperman was able to tip over.
 
The Stags are back in action as they open a stretch where they will play four out of their next five matches at home, beginning with a Thursday night game against Hartford at 7pm.