It was on their home field. In front of their fans. On the grass they have been playing on their entire career. It was their time to shine. But the 2009 Fairfield Stags soccer team fell to the Loyola Greyhounds in the semifinals of last years MAAC Championship. The 3-0 loss marked the end to a season built on finishing strong. After starting the season 1-4, the Stags went 7-1-2 in their next 10 games. For the preseason number 2 ranked team in the MAAC, not making the finals on their home field was a disappointment. Getting over the hump from last year and starting off the season strong could be the biggest weakness for this team. But the 2010 Stags have something to prove, and are trying to get the Fairfield men’s soccer program back to its prominence.
The Stags only lose one key player from last years 9-6-2 squad. Graduating is their former captain Christian Uy who was tied for the most assists on the team and tallied the third most points for the Stags. However injuries can also play a key factor for Fairfield. Jack Cleverly, the senior from Dorset, England, tore his ACL and will be out to at least October. Last year, Cleverly returned to capture a spot on the first team all MAAC squad. He appeared in all 18 games during the 2009 season, and was a key player in the Stags defensive efforts. He scored one goal during the season, netting the team's only goal in a 1-1 tie with Siena College. The Stags dealt with injuries last year which could have been a reason for their early exit. Their leading scorer, Jack Burridge had a set back which forced him to miss the entire MAAC Championship. Without this threat, the Stags were noticeably missing a big threat on the field scoring only 2 goals in their last 4 games.
So with the loss of the 2008 MAAC Tournament MVP who can the Stags rely on to get them back to another MAAC Title? This squad will be comprised of a extremely experienced groups of individuals. 10 seniors will be asked to become leaders on and off the field. But who should you watch out for in the up coming year? Three players should become the focal point on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
1) Erik Ilisije SR (Manapalan NJ). Illisije placed second on the team with 12 total points, all of which came off six goals. He enjoyed a hot dtreak midway through the season where he netted five goals over a three-game span against MAAC opponents. The forward started the run with a goal against Saint Peter's, and followed with a pair of goals against Manhattan and Rider. For the Stags to have any chance at the MAAC Crown, they must have the 2009 MAAC Second Team Representive become more consistent throughout the entire season.
2) Matthew Uy SR (New Hyde Park, NY). Matthew Uy was one of the team's top all-around players, registering six points. He was also one of the team's best defenders, giving the team support both offensive and defensively. Uy recorded one goal and four assists during the year.
3) Michael O'Keeffe SO (Christchurch NZ). O'Keeffe was named to the All-MAAC first team in his first year in the states. He recorded four shutouts and a 1.19 goals against average in 17 starts. He played 1514 minutes and posted 74 saves for a .787 save percentage. Hopefully a sophmore slump doesn't register for the goalie. However, a stronger defense will make his job much easier in the upcoming season.
However, this "is not a team of superstars" according to O'Keeffe. Their main focus is to play as a single unit. The now sophmore goal keeper states that the biggest strength of the squad is size. It allows the Stags to "be more threatening in set pieces and defending set pieces." Size will defintely be a factor for this group. The average height of the team will be 5'11 and their leading scorer towers in at 6'3 and weighes 190 pounds. Strength and size will lead to more offensive and defensive breaks.
The field for the MAAC Conference will be changing as well in the upcoming campaign. The defending champions, Loyola Greyhounds return 5 of their top 6 scorers but lose the offensive and defensive player of the year. While Iona, who spent the last part of 2009 ranked as high as 10th in the nation, will have to persevere without their two top scorers, who accounted for 50% of the total team goals, and arguably the best goalie in the conference in Nils Binstock. Both teams experience big losses to the make up of their team, but the depth that was created through recruiting should save the season for the Greyhounds and the Gaels.
The 2010 Stags enter the season on a mission. Not being able to defend their MAAC title was a disappointment for the players on the team. Some players start out with little goals to begin the year. O'Keeffe's goal is to "go out of conference without a loss" which will give this team the confidence to win some crucial games down the stretch. In order to take home the MAAC trophy, the Stags would have to go to Loyola which hosts the Championship tournament. Can you see it now? The Stags trying revenging the Greyhounds for defeating them on their home field just last year. With just a couple of months left before the season start, the Stags are ready to make this thought a reality.
The men's and women's soccer teams will be wearing a new home uniform. As the picture shows it is a white shirt with the red stripes and looks much more professional than those of the past years. 
