Fairfield Stags men's soccer

Fairfield Stags
Founded 1964 (1964)
University Fairfield University
Conference MAAC
Location Fairfield, CT
Head coach England Carl Rees (15th year)
Stadium Lessing Field
(Capacity: 600)
Nickname Stags
Colors Red[1]
    
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1999, 2006, 2008, 2011
Conference Tournament Champions
1999, 2006, 2008, 2011
Conference Regular Season Champions
1998, 2005, 2006, 2011

The Fairfield Stags men's soccer team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field on the campus of Fairfield University. The team was ranked nationally in 1998 (24th), 2000 (15th), 2001 (12th), 2005 (24th), 2006 (15th) 2007 (17th) and 2011 (25th) and competed in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament in 1999, 2006, 2008, and 2011. The 2006 team advanced to the second round in the NCAA Tournament after defeating in-state rival University of Connecticut, 2-1. The team also won the MAAC Championship Tournament in 1999, 2006, 2008, and 2011. Individually, ten players have earned Regional All-American honors including Mark Longwell '82 who was the first Stag to go on to play for the United States men's national soccer team and major professional soccer for the NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Stags are currently coached by 1998 New England Coach of the Year Carl Rees.

History

Dawn of the Stags

The Fairfield Stags men's soccer program first began in 1964. Fairfield University Athletic Hall of Famer James Kuhlmann was the founding coach who dedicated himself to the University and the development of the program over the next 24 years. Coach Kuhlmann's dedication and efforts culminated in the Stags becoming a routine MAAC contender in the 1980s with standout players Mark Longwell '82, who went on to play for the United States men's national soccer team and the NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies, and Alberto Zappala '82 leading the way.[2]

2006 MAAC Champions

Red Stags Rising

With Head Coach Carl Rees manning the helm over the past decade the Stags have been ranked among the nation's elite programs having produced seven NSCAA Regional All-Americans and achieved seven winning seasons, including double-digit win totals in five of the last 10 campaigns. In 1998, the Stags posted a program-high 15 wins, and earned a #24 national ranking, the first-ever top 25 poll appearance by any Fairfield University team. In 1999, the Stags won its first MAAC tournament title and the program's first NCAA play-in berth. In 2000, the Stags earned a #15 national ranking. In 2001, the Stags placed in the national rankings all but two weeks, hitting a program-high of number 12. In 2005, the Stags posted an unbeaten conference record (8-0-1) for the first time in school history and captured the MAAC regular-season championship. The Stags also garnered a national ranking in the 2005 polls, thanks in part to an unbeaten mark during the month of October (8-0-1).

2006 Season

In 2006 the Stags became the first Fairfield team in any sport to advance past the first round of an NCAA Tournament, as they defeated UConn 2-1 in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in Storrs, CT. After winning the MAAC regular season and post season championship, the Stags, led by seniors Alex Cunliffe and Mike Troy, as well as juniors Tom Skara, J.P. Francini and Sam Bailey, entered the UConn game as the underdog. A goal by senior Jimmy Gaughan broke a 1–1 tie and solid goaltending from Francini kept the lead for Fairfield who upset the Huskies. The Stags lost to Towson in the second round, but will be remembered as one of the best athletic teams in school history.

All-time head coaches

Years Head Coach Record Postseason
1964–1987 James Kuhlmann –
1988–1995 Dejan Cokic –
1996– Carl Rees 115-68-28 1999 NCAA, 2006 NCAA, 2008 NCAA
– Total 126-74-30 –

Awards

Regional All-American

  • United States Mark Longwell (1981)
  • Canada Dave Mancini (2000)
  • Canada Rob DeFaveri (2001)
  • New Zealand Aaron Kingi (2001)
  • Canada Justin Thompson (2002)
  • Northern Ireland Bryan Harkin (2002)
  • Canada Billy Androutsos (2004, 2005)
  • England Alex Cunliffe (2004, 2006)
  • England Sam Bailey (2006, 2007)
  • United States Thomas Skara (2006, 2007)
  • United States Matthew Uy (2007, 2008, 2009)

Regional Coach of the Year

League Coach of the Year

League Player of the Year

First Team All-League

All-Time statistic leaders

Career leaders

  • Points: England Sam Bailey (70, 2004–2007)
  • Goals: England Sam Bailey (27, 2004–2007)
  • Assists: England Barry O'Driscoll (20, 1996–1999)
  • Lowest Goal Against Average: New Zealand Roger Noll (0.92, 1999–2001)
  • Shutouts: New Zealand Roger Noll (20, 1999–2001)

Single-season leaders

  • Points: England Barry O'Driscoll (29, 1999)
  • Goals: England James Gledhill (12, 2001)
  • Assists: Northern Ireland Bryan Harkin (9, 2000)
  • Lowest Goal Against Average: United States Andrew Frankel (0.61, 2005)
  • Shutouts: England Danny Glynn (9, 1998) and New Zealand Roger Noll (20, 2000)

Stags in the pros

Player Year Team
Vasilis Androutsos 2005 Montreal Impact
Adam Braz 2001 Canadian National Team, Toronto FC
Rob DeFaveri 2002 Montreal Impact
James Hunt 2004 Long Island Rough Riders
Justin Thompson 2003 Portland Timbers, Worcester City, Virginia Beach Mariners, Toronto Lynx
Bryan Harkin 2002 Crystal Palace FC USA
Lee Williams 1999 Toronto Lynx
Jim McElderry 1993 New York Fever, Long Island Rough Riders
Mark Longwell 1982 United States National Team, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Ft. Lauderdale Suns
Thomas Skara 2010 Melbourne Knights
Matt Turner 2015 New England Revolution

References

External links

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