The women’s soccer team had never earned a result against Connecticut before. They were 0-2-0 against the Huskies, losing 3-0 in 1999 and 4-1 last year.
But this season, the Stags entered their game against UConn riding a seven game winning streak and, despite losing several top seniors to graduation, received an early-season boost from an infusion of young talent.
Nine freshmen have made significant contributions playing in seven or more of Fairfield’s games.
Those players, along with several key returning players, helped the Stags rally in the second half to finish with a 2-2 tie in double-overtime.
The Stags entered the game confident that they could contend with one of the top programs in that nation. The Huskies finished last year ranked ninth in the NSCAA/adidas poll and, despite their 3-5 record coming into the game, are a top soccer program.
‘This is the first time against UConn we legitimately thought we had a chance to win,’ said senior midfielder Ahna Johnson. ‘We never had that mindset before.’
Fairfield struggled during the first half to create opportunities. UConn controlled the ball and struck the first blow, knocking a shot in off the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
Shortly after, the Stags had a chance off a corner kick by junior Adrienne Boyer. Junior Casey Frobey headed the ball, but UConn goalie Stephanie Labbe made a diving save.
Fairfield entered the half down a goal, but made some strategy changes when they came back out on the field.
‘We made an adjustment,’ said Head Coach Jim O’Brien. ‘We had one attacking player during the first half, but we recognized that though it was good, we wanted to put a second in to help us hold possession.’
It also helped that only four minutes into the second half, sophomore Nicole Cavallaro beat her defender and was headed towards the goalie, but UConn defender Becky Gundling pulled her down from behind just outside the box.
Gundling received a red card and UConn was forced to play with ten women the rest of the game.
On the ensuing free kick, senior Robyn Decker put the ball in place for Johnson to head the ball in to tie the game.
Responding quickly despite being a man down, the Huskies scored less than two minutes later.
Fairfield went on to control the tempo for the rest of the game, but was unable to convert until the 65th minute when Cavallaro flipped the ball over UConn’s charging goalie tying the game at two apiece.
Cavallaro returned from a groin injury in the Stags’ win over Holy Cross just two days before.
‘She scored the go-ahead goal,’ said O’Brien. ‘She’s another bullet in my holster I can take out. We’re happy to have her back.’
Both Fairfield and UConn had several chances close to the goal before the end of regulation and in both overtimes, but neither team could come out on top.
‘We wanted to come out with a win, but it is a result to help put us on the map,’ said Johnson. ‘But no, we’re not satisfied.’
Like his players, O’Brien was both pleased and disappointed with the game.
‘They had a player ejected and we had opportunities, so that’s slightly disappointing,’ said O’Brien. ‘But they are a perennial top-25 team, they’ve been to Final Fours. Their program is legendary, so to play them to a tie, that’s positive.’
The Stags returned to action on Tuesday against Harvard, another solid team, who played No. 12 BC to a tie in its last game.
Despite facing three game in five days, O’Brien was not worried about fatigue.
‘We are in very good physical condition and we have a great deal of depth,’ said O’Brien.
Fairfield needed that depth when the Crimson again took the game to double-overtime, which ended in a scoreless tie.
The Stags had numerous opportunities in regulation, but could not convert.
‘I’m satisfied,’ said O’Brien.
‘Harvard is a high level program, so it’s a good result, but it’s disappointing after dominating.’
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