Lessing Field - Memorable Moments

Memorable Moments

• The Goal: On April 16, 2005, playing before 1,376 fans at Lessing Field, the No. 20 Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse team was knotted at 11 goals apiece with eight seconds left in a game against the No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Stags' three-time All-American midfielder Greg Downing '07 took possession of the ball out of a timeout, beat his defender and rocketed a shot past the Notre Dame goalie to give the Stags the upset win. "The Goal", which was Downing's fifth of the day, came with three seconds left on the clock and gave the Stags a program record-tying seventh straight win. Four weeks later before 2,486 fans at Alumni Field, the No. 17 Stags led by a hat-trick from Tom Werney '05 upset the No. 12 Denver Pioneers to clinch their second GWLL Championship and berth in the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament.

• On November 5, 2006, in front of a national audience on ESPNU the Fairfield Stags men's soccer team won the 2006 MAAC Soccer Championship and earned a berth to the 2006 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship with a 1-0 victory over St. Peter's College. The lone goal came during the 69th minute when Tom Clements '08 sent a free kick to the left corner where Alex Cunliffe '07 found room inside the box. Drawing a double-team about 25 yards from the near post, Cunliffe sent a cross to the feet of Mike Troy '07. Troy dribbled along the end line until he sent a shot on goal from 10 yards which deflected off the St. Peter's goalkeeper and into the corner of the net for the game-winning score.