Following a season that started out well but ended with disappointment due to injuries, the men’s soccer team entered the 2008 season with high hopes.
Just two years removed from a trip to the NCAA tournament, the Stags remain a favorite to win the MAAC, being named the conference’s second best team in the preseason rankings.
The Stags started out with 1-1 record, but could not find a way to win in their home opener against Northeastern on Wednesday night, falling by a score of 2-1.
The game was originally scheduled to be played on Saturday night but was moved to Monday because of tropical storm Hanna.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Carl Rees said that he believes the team will rebound as the season goes along.
‘We have to keep it all in perspective,’ said Rees, whose team played without senior midfielder Aldo Hope and freshman starter Jack Burridge due to injuries. ‘We’re happy with the way that guys have stepped in, the mentality is correct, we just got a little bit unlucky.’
The Stags gave up goals on a corner and a free kick and could not convert on similar opportunities of their own.
Senior captain Tom Clements scored the Stags lone goal, deflecting a shot by fellow senior Mike Lentine into the back of the net.
‘I actually had a poor touch first off,’ said Clements. ‘I tried to put it on the frame and luckily it just went over everyone’s head and into the back of the net.’
Like Rees, Clements said that he thinks the team will continue to grow as the year goes along.
‘We have the fundamentals to have a good team,’ said Clements. ‘We have leadership not only from the upperclassmen, but from the sophomores and freshmen who have come in. I think we can find some success as we learn from our mistakes game to game.’
The Stags schedule does not get any easier heading into the next few games. Harvard, perennially one of the best teams in the Northeast region, comes to play at Lessing Field on Friday night. After that game, Fairfield goes on the road for four straight games, including a trip to Florida for a tournament against Florida International and Florida Gulf Coast.
After the grueling non-conference schedule is completed, the Stags should be ready for MAAC play.
‘We are always going to be a contender,’ said Rees. ‘There is too much quality on the team. Overall, I thought we were the better team [against Northeastern], but to come away from nothing out of it is tough for the guys to take. But we will bounce back and be battling.’
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