The Fairfield Stags’ undefeated streak has come to an end after thirteen games. The Stags fell to the Harvard Crimson 2-1, on a goal from Harvard with just 43 seconds left in the second overtime. The Stags, who entered the game as the 19th ranked team in the country, are now 8-3-1.
Fairfield scored the first score of the game, in the 68th minute, as senior captain, Mike Troy, put the ball into the net off a free kick by fellow senior, Alex Cunliffe, who picked up the assist. Troy’s goal was the second on the year for him, while it was Cunliffe’s second assist of the year and his team high 16th point.
Fairfield was able to hold the lead until the 85th minute, when Harvard sent the game into overtime with a goal. Harvard then controlled the first overtime, but failed to score, and in a back and forth second overtime, Harvard scored as the clock wound down, breaking the hearts of the Fairfield players and fans.
The Stags’ deffense was not as sharp as usual and the Crimson had many opportunities to score, putting 17 shots on goal, including eight in the two overtime periods. Although, Fairfield goalkeeper Jon Paul Francini, who was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season on Monday, kept the Stags in the game. Francini had seven saves, but with the amount of chances the Crimson had, they were able to slip two by him.
This was just the second time this season that Francini allowed more than one goal in a game, the first time came in a 2-0 loss to Hartwick earlier this season.
“Overall I think that we played well,” said Coach Carl Rees after the game. “Harvard is a fast, attacking team and I credit the [Fairfield] boys for keeping us in position to win yet another game.”
“It was a good performance against another tough Ivy League team,” said co-captain Alex Cunliffe. “It was a tough game that could have gone either way, but we need to keep our heads down and not let it happen again. This should motivate us to play harder in the next few weeks.”
The Crimson came out strong to start the game, pushing the ball quickly into Fairfield’s end, but was unable to score as Fairfield’s defense cleared the ball down the field. The Stags’ tried to put a goal on the board earlier as Cunliffe sent a nice pass to forward Paul McQuade ’10, who attempted a shot, but a sliding Harvard defender got in the way, blocking it.
Harvard immediately returned pressure on Francini and the Fairfield defense. Harvard shot from just inside the box, but it went high and a leaping Francini sent the ball out of bounds.
With 27 minutes left in the half, a Harvard forward broke free towards the net, but midfielder David Piedrahita ’10 tackled the ball away.
In the 24th minute Sam Bailey `08 was taken down, setting up a free kick. Cunliffe took the kick, blasting the ball on goal. The Crimson goalie deflected the kick which Mike Troy ’07 sent into the net putting Fairfield up 1-0.
Fairfield almost put a second goal on the board, with 17 minutes left, as McQuade sent a pass over to Cunliffe. Harvard turned up the heat as the half wore down but with approximately 5 minutes left in the game, Harvard scored the equalizer to send the game into overtime.
The Crimson controlled the entire first overtime, taking four shots on goal, three of which were saved by Francini, with the other just hitting off the post. Tom Clements `09, made a diving stop on a Harvard shot, and Francini locked down to keep the ball out of the net. Fairfield had just one opportunity to score, after Cunliffe sent a pass to McQuade, who put the ball over the net.
The second overtime was more evenly contested, as both sides had chances to score. Two minutes into the overtime, Fairfield’s Cunliffe passed the ball to a sliding McQuade, but his shot was blocked by the goalie. With just 43 seconds remaining, Harvard broke to the corner and scored the game-winning goal.
“We need to have a stronger mentality, we can’t give up goals like that at the end of games and then in the end of overtime,” said Mike Troy. “But it’s all positive moving forward. We are still taking the games one at a time and will put this loss behind us.”
“The out of conference schedule is over and this win will motivate us as the MAAC season continues. This game does leave a bitter taste though,” Troy added.
Coach Rees thinks the team can rise above the loss to Harvard.
“We are still learning what it takes to win big games, we just weren’t able to close it tonight, it was a critical time and a critical game and we didn’t come through, but it’s not the end of the world, we are still improving and we will move on to the next game and try to get back to winning,” he said.
Although they lost, the fans remained strong.
“The fans were great once again,” said Alex Cunliffe. “We really appreciate them coming out and it was too bad we couldn’t close the game out for them, but we thank them for the support and hope to see them at the games the rest of the season.”
Fairfield will take to the pitch again this Friday night at Manhattan University and will then play at St. Peter’s on Sunday.
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