FU Take Two

Following a breakout season as a sophomore, Fordham goalkeeper Justin Burse entered the 2006 season with hopes of expanding on his success.

Burse’s junior season began just how he had hoped, at least for the first 75 minutes of his game against South Florida. He made six saves, but had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after breaking his left leg with 15 minutes remaining in the game.

After over a year of grueling rehab, Burse returned to play only three games in his senior season, starting two of those.

‘It was difficult. No one likes to be on the bench, but it was a learning experience for me, to get better,’ said Burse.

With a fifth-year of eligibility, Burse is starting over, 40 miles down the road and at a different FU.

With Fordham looking to go in a younger direction in goal, Burse was forced to look for a new school to continue his career.

‘It was a decision [coming to Fairfield] based on academics and athletics as well, but academics first’ said Burse, who is seeking a Masters of Business as a Fairfield graduate student.

Stags Head Coach Carl Rees learned of Burse’s availability through Fordham Head Coach Jim McElderry ’93, a former Stags assistant coach.

‘We were looking at a number of different goalkeepers,’ said Rees. ‘He came in and I met with him and checked the boxes in terms of his personality and demeanor and aspirations.’

Fairfield got a release from Fordham, per NCAA regulations and Burse became a member of the team. He has only one season of eligibility left, but unlike in college basketball and football, athletes do not have to wait a year before playing after transferring.

Burse has started all three games the Stags have played so far this season, allowing just four goals and leading Fairfield to a respectable a 1-2 record.

Originally from Louisville, Ky., Burse set the third best goals against average (0.77) and save percentage (.821) in Fordham history in 2005.

His brother, Ray, played goalkeeper at Ohio State for four years and is now a member of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) FC Dallas.

‘He has been a positive on my career,’ said Burse. ‘He’s always been in my ear, calling me everyday, to talk about soccer (and) how to get better.’

With the loss of the core of last season’s team, forward Sam Bailey, defender Tom Skara and goalkeeper J.P. Francini, to graduation, Rees was desperate for a leader to emerge for his team.

‘I’ve been very impressed with him,’ said Rees. ‘He is a leader, he’s athletic. He certainly has been a good addition to the squad.’

Burse is not the only transfer to join the Stags this season. Jack Burridge, a South Shields, England native, joins the team after one season at University of South Carolina Upstate. He scored three goals and added two assists last year with the Spartans.

‘In the off-season we felt that as a group, we needed personalities and I think we found that in the transfers,’ said Rees. ‘Jack is a vocal presence up front, when he comes back from injury. With Justin at the back, we have a good fit for what the group needed and that’s proven to be the case.’

Burse said that he is excited about the second opportunity, especially with the Stags.
‘It’s a great team. We obviously have a lot of talent. (This) team looks like it can be MAAC champions,’ he said.

The Stags now head to Florida this weekend to play Florida International and Florida Gulf Coast. The team’s scheduled game against Harvard was rained out on Saturday.

‘The guys are really eager to be playing again,’ said Rees. ‘It’s a really good, committed group. They have been training hard and will do their best to bring back two good results’