Stags Score Winning Goal In Second Extra Period

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Erik Ilisije wasn't in Fairfield's starting lineup Tuesday night against Yale, but that didn't stop him from having a major impact on the result. Ilisije scored two goals, including the game-winner with 8:49 left in the second overtime period, to lift the Stags to a 2-1 victory over the Bulldogs on a mild night at Lessing Field.

Andy Shorten scored his second goal of the season for Yale, which had a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.

"I thought we controlled long periods of the game and had a lot of the ball," said Yale head coach Brian Tompkins. "In the second half, they started to play long balls at us. We dealt with it pretty well but a couple of lapses cost us."

Shorten gave the Bulldogs the lead midway through the first half when he scored off a corner kick. Eric Meyer notched the assist.

Ilisije's first goal, though, tied the score midway through the second half. It came when he headed in the rebound of Todd Rutledge's shot.

Nuno Rodrigues set up the game-winner. He chipped the ball over a Yale defender to Ilisije, who knocked it home.

The Bulldogs had the only shot of the first 10-minute overtime period but couldn't capitalize.

Goalkeeper Bobby Thalman made four saves for Yale (0-2). Michael O'Keefe stopped four shots for the Stags (1-1-1).

The Bulldogs will head to the Brown Tournament this weekend. Yale plays Hofstra on Friday at 5 p.m. and South Carolina on Sunday at noon.

"We're still a work in progress," Tompkins said. "We'll bounce back and try to get a result on Friday."

Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity