Stags Advance to MAAC Title Game

Overcome Siena in Penalty Kicks

November 8, 2008

After a scoreless draw in regulation, the Fairfield women's soccer team advanced to the Championship Game of the MAAC, defeating third-seeded Siena, 5-4, in penalty kicks.

"We played very well today, just did not finish opportunities that we had in regulation," said Stags head coach Jim O'Brien. "I felt that we did a nice job and it would have been a shame if we had not advanced."

The win improves the second-seeded Stags to 14-4-3 overall, while the Saints fall to 13-2-4.

Each of the first four players for each team put home their PK's, setting up the decisive fifth attempt for each team. Fairfield rookie goalkeeper Kelly Boudreau slid to her left, dropping to her knees, to catch the shot from Shana Brady, leaving the game on the foot of Casey Frobey. Frobey stepped to the line and put the ball into the back of the net for the deciding tally.

Fairfield advances to the final for the eighth time in the program's history and will face top-seeded Loyola, at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Greyhounds defeated fourth-seeded Canisius 4-2 in the first semifinal.

The two teams played evenly throughout the first half of play, with Siena out shooting the Stags 9-4. From halftime and throughout both overtime periods, the Stags controlled play. Fairfield out shot Siena 16-4 after the break, with a 7-0 advantage in shots on goal.

The Stags had several chances to win the game, two coming in the final 20 seconds of the first overtime period. Kelly Steele took a shot from the top of the box that knocked off of the near post, with 20 seconds to play. Chrissie Sidie ended up with the ball at the top of the box and unleashed a shot with two seconds to play that Laura Ettinger turned away.

Boudreau finished the game with three saves, all coming in the first-half, and stopped Siena's final penalty kick chance. Ettinger made nine saves in the contest for Siena.

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