By By Jared Shafran, News Staff

Despite outshooting its opponent for the third consecutive game, the men’s soccer team couldn’t secure the win as it dropped a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Fairfield University Tuesday at Parsons Field.
The lone goal of the game came from Stags freshman forward Nuno Rodriguez in the 105th minute.
‘In soccer, chances don’t last for too long, and when you have them they’re not going to last 90 minutes,’ Huskies head coach Brian Ainscough said. ‘You get a mental breakdown at the end and that’s it.’
In regulation, NU had twice as many shots as the visitors at 12-6. Northeastern freshman goalkeeper Michael Gallagher did not have to make a save until the second half.
After the Huskies started the second bonus frame with three more shots, Fairfield midfielder Christian Uy brought the ball deep into the corner on the left side of Gallagher and crossed it into the center. A wide-open Rodriguez didn’t waste any time, putting the game-winner past Gallagher into the open part of the left side of the net.
Early in the first half, the Huskies were the more physical team, but Fairfield was able to control the ball and got some decent chances. Many chances the Huskies had to build momentum were thwarted by errant passes and stolen away by Fairfield players.
As the half progressed, the Huskies offense controlled more of the play. Sophomore forward Mike Kennedy had a good chance 20 minutes in, but it was blocked.
‘We’re definitely getting chances,’ Kennedy said. ‘We have been outshooting our opponents and everyone is still pretty confident in the team.’
Kennedy is a high-energy player for the Huskies who can get open and turn a team on their heels pretty quickly. With his help, the Huskies took control of play for most of the rest of the half and had the Stags trying desperately to do anything they could to keep the game tied.
Minutes after Kennedy’s chance was blocked, junior midfielder Santiago Bendoya made a great spin move to get past a defender and gave himself some room away from defenders in front of the net. He then left a ball for Kennedy who had a great look at the net but shot it just wide to the right.
With about four minutes to go in the first half, Fairfield’s sophomore forward Jack Burridge received a yellow card for rough play. Burridge came into the game leading the team with three goals on the season.
After the ensuing free kick, senior forward Matt Laning had another look at the net but his shot was kept out by Fairfield freshmen goalkeeper Michael O’Keefe. At the end of the first half, the teams were tied at 0-0.
In the second half and both overtimes, it was much of the same for the Huskies, as chance after chance was not finished and the game stayed scoreless. The Stags did not actually register a shot on net until the 77th minute of the game.
‘The kids are doing great but this is what happens when you cannot finish,’ Ainscough said. ‘We have the troops to do it but you cannot win unless you get the ball in the net.’
Northeastern still leads the all-time series against Fairfield with a record of 6-5-0. Last season, the Huskies defeated the Stags 2-1 in Fairfield.
With the loss, Northeastern’s record sinks to 1-5 on the season. Fairfield improves to 2-4 after the win.
The Huskies will look to turn things around this Saturday when conference play begins with a trip to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on the James Madison Dukes at 7 p.m.
‘We are creating chances, now we just have to get some results,’ Kennedy said. ‘We have to stay positive and we’re looking forward to getting a fresh start.’