Overtime Goal Lifts Fairfield Over Men's Soccer

Despite out shooting Fairfield 17-6, the Golden Panthers came up short once again as they lost 2-1 in overtime Friday night at University Park.

"We were pretty much able to dominate [in the second half,]" said head coach Munga Eketebi. But if you don't put the ball away, if you don't put away your opportunities, you're not going to win."

The Golden Panthers had an early scoring opportunity when in the ninth minute of play Marcos Balladares beat the defense to get deep into the box, but his shot was turned away.

In the 26th minute, the Stags took a 1-0 lead when Tom Clements scored on a header off a corner kick by Mike Lentine.

Following a Fairfield foul in the 53rd minute, Juan Guerra unleashed a screamer off a free kick that was saved by Fairfield keeper Justin Burse but couldn't be handled. Mark Zimmerman then shot the rebound towards goal but that too was turned away.

The Golden Panthers finally broke through in the 77th minute, when Steven Jair Cabas dribbled into the box and was taken down by a defender setting up a penalty kick. Juan Guerra knocked in the penalty kick into the top right corner to tie the score at one. It was Guerra's fourth score of the year.

The Stags nearly won the game in the 88th minute when Christian Uy took a dangerous shot, but Phill Fisher was there to block the shot, keep the score knotted at one and send the match into overtime.

In the fourth minute of overtime, Christian Uy got another chance to score and this time he wouldn't be denied as he knocked in a loose ball for the winning score.

The loss drops FIU to 0-5-1, while with the win Fairfield evens their record at 2-2-0.

The Golden Panthers will have another opportunity to get in the win column this Sunday when they host the Crusaders of Holy Cross at noon.

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