Siena soccer ties with Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT– Freshman midfielder Alejandro Riquelme scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season, but Fairfield leveled the match with just 40 seconds remaining in regulation as Siena Soccer battled the Stags to a 1-1 draw in Connecticut. Senior goalkeeper Aleksa Radosavljevic made five saves for the Saints which recorded their fifth tie in 11 matches this season.

Following a defensive minded first half which featured just one combined shot on goal, play opened up over the second 45 minutes. And in the 63rd minute Siena (2-4-5, 0-1-2) struck first when sophomore midfielder Eamonn Conway fed Riquelme who roofed a shot from the top of the 18 which deflected down off the crossbar and in.

The Saints tried to hang on late for the win, but in the final minute Fairfield (6-4-1, 2-1-1) seized the tying opportunity. A service into the box was pinballed around and eventually found its way into the goal for what was officially scored as an own goal.

Siena would thus play in its eighth overtime contest this fall, and eventually move to 1-2-5 in such matches as the game ended in a draw.

The Stags held a 13-9 edge in shots and a 10-4 advantage in corners. Gordon Botterill made four saves for Fairfield which is now unbeaten in five of its past six matches.

The Saints return to action Wednesday when they welcome Niagara to the Capital Region for a 3 p.m. kickoff at Siena Turf Field.