Forwards Bo Jelovac and David Hawksworth each found the back of the net and goalkeeper Adrian Foncette made nine saves to lead UAlbany to a 2-0 road victory over Fairfield in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at Lessing Field.
Fairfield (0-1), which was picked second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, peppered Foncette with shots throughout the second half. However, the junior came away with every save he had to make to keep the Stags off the board. After the hosts had fired 10 shots at Foncette in the stanza, including one which was headed for the top corner of the net and punched away by the Great Dane goalkeeper at the last moment, Hawksworth put the match away by scoring his second career goal in the 89th minute. Team captain Shaun Kane charged down the sideline and centered a cross to the sophomore forward, who beat a defender before pounding the ball into the net shortly before the last whistle.
Foncette turned away nine of the 15 shots he faced for UAlbany to earn his sixth career shutout. Fairfield's O'Keefe made two stops on six opportunities in the losing effort.