A controversial goal in the last few minutes of the game gave the Fairfield University women’s soccer team the victory Sunday, as the Stags beat Canisius 1-0 on Lessing Field.

With about six and a half minutes left in the second half, Canisius goalie Jenna Gage collided with a player and remained down while play continued around her. Since no whistle was blown for play to stop, Fairfield remained on the offensive, as Meghan King ’05 found Janna Breitenwischer ’08, who put the ball in the back of the net to clinch the win for her team.

While Gage remained on the ground for the next few minutes receiving assistance from the team trainer, many Canisius players and fans were vocal concerning their frustration with the injury, as they felt play should have been suspended.

Although the Stags would have rather not won on such a questionable goal, they did however feel that the call was just.

“You hate winning on a goal like that, but the ref. made the right call,” said King.

“The other team had the opportunity to play the ball out of bounds and they didn’t. We simply capitalized on their mistake. It was a heads up play on our part.”

Prior to the incident, Fairfield dominated the game, out-shooting the Griffs, 27-3. While the Stags had many opportunities to score, they struggled to find the net, a problem that has plagued them all season long.

“Scoring has been one of our weaknesses all season,” said King. “It’s been difficult scoring that first goal. Coach [Piechocki] was proud of the way we kept at it.”

While the Stags struggled to get that first goal Sunday, on Friday’s game against Niagara they figured out the problem early, scoring three goals in the first thirteen minutes of play enroute to a 4-3 victory. The two MAAC wins improved the Stags conference record to 4-2 and gave them some breathing room heading into this weekends games as they get set to take on MAAC foes Marist and Siena.

“This weekend’s games were a must win and we are excited to have them out of the waynd one step closer to MAAC’s,” said King.

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