Double trouble

A smile crept across the face of men’s soccer head coach Carl Rees as he heard the news that for the second time in three years his squad would face No. 22 Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

‘We’re looking forward to it,’ said Rees. ‘It is a big challenge on the road against the monster program in the state.

‘After the results this weekend I don’t think the lads should be intimidated at all,’ he said.
The game will be played in Storrs on Friday at 7 p.m., two years after Fairfield pulled off a remarkable upset over UConn in the NCAA tournament.

Throughout the season, the chances of making even the MAAC tournament looked grim for the Stags, but following a loss to Niagara, Fairfield turned it around and went on a five-game winning streak, scoring 15 goals and conceding none during that stretch. It ended with an improbable victory over No. 6 Loyola, the only undefeated team in the country, in the MAAC Championship game.

‘The weekend was absolutely fantastic,’ said senior captain Tom Clements. ‘Ever since we lost four-nil to Niagara, the team has really just come together.’

Fairfield entered the MAAC tournament this past weekend as the number three seed, facing the number two seed Siena in the opening round. The Stags were coming off of a 3-0 Senior Day win over the same Saints team less then a week before. It was a similar result for the Stags as they dominated again, winning 4-0.

One win away from a trip to the NCAA tournament, Fairfield was staring down one of the top teams in the country and its fiercest rival, Loyola.

But according to Clements, the momentum carried over from previous games and the Stags never felt like theunderdog during the game.

The result was a 1-0 win and a second trip to the NCAA tournament in the three years. It was Loyola’s first loss of the season and its first in the team’s past 27 games. The Greyhounds earned an at-large bid to the tournament and received a first round bye.
‘It was a fantastic game,’ said Rees. ‘This team just works so hard. It has a real blue-collar edge to it. I just believe they wanted it more than any other team in the tournament.’

Now Fairfield will again make a trip to Storrs to face the biggest program in the state: Connecticut. Two years ago, the Stags were in a similar situation. That time, Fairfield pulled off a shocking 2-1 upset in the tournament’s first round.

‘It’s great to play them again,’ said Clements. ‘We had a great match up there two years ago and hopefully we’ll get the same result again this time. I am really happy with the draw.’

Clements was sent off with a red card in 2006 when he elbowed a Huskies’ player in the nose. This time around, Clements said he hopes to remain on the field and help the Stags’ attempt to reach the second round.

That second round matchup would come against No. 21 Virginia, which earned a first round bye.

UConn enters the game with a 9-4-6 record and has a talented roster that includes one of the nation’s top players, forward O’Brien White. White is a candidate for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top player every year.

Two years ago, White had multiple scoring chances against Fairfield as a sophomore, but was turned away each time.

The Huskies boast one of the top defensive teams in the country, allowing just 0.59 goals per game, which is the ninth best average in the country.

Fairfield will need goalkeeper Justin Burse, who has a 1.05 goals against average and has recorded five straight shutouts, to continue his success.

The Stags will also lean on Christian Uy ’10, who was named the MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after scoring two goals and recording two assists.

‘I think they are playing the best soccer of the entire season,’ said Rees. ‘We are peaking at the right time and we will be in there, battling same as we were two years ago.’