IRVINE, Calif – One of the big positives the Fairfield women's soccer team can take away from their season opening 4-2 loss to UC Irvine is that the toughness and determination they spent all preseason building was on full display. The home Anteaters added two goals in a 1:34 span in the first half and two more in the second half (one on a penalty kick) with Brenna Brown scoring the lone two goals for the Stags. Goalkeeper Jenna Pike racked up seven quality saves for the Stags in her first time in net in 2016.
“It's just the positive attitude,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “The seniors are just very positive people and are 'never say die' kids. That's what they did today. Brenna (Brown) was spectacular, she did a tremendous job. I feel that she's going to have a big year for us. Anna (Borea) was being very vocal out there, leading the charge with the team and that's contagious.”
“This attitude is going to be helpful,” Brown said. “In the MAAC every game is a battle so knowing from the first player to the last players, everyone is for the team. I know we were standing up in the second half and that is something that helps them on the field.”
The whole first half was summed up by two crucial minutes as both teams combined for three goals in 2:02 of game action. UC Irvine's Lili Andino came off the bench to score two goals in a span of 1:24 but Brenna Brown answered 29 seconds later with a cross from Jackie Goudreault to touch the net for the first Fairfield score of the season.
The Anteaters had the majority of possession during the first 45 minutes, but the Fairfield back four stepped up time after time, namely Faith Daley and Molly Moran saving potential scores, tapping away balls from the line. The few times the ball did get through, Pike was able to bail them out. The junior goalkeeper dove to her right and one-handed tap the ball out of bounds for her first save of 2016. Pike also intercepted a cross midway through the period to waste another Anteater opportunity.
The defensive luck ran out in the 37th minute when Noel Baham rushed a free kick, leaving the Stags on their heels. The ball found Andino in the box and the sophomore was able to finish. Andino found the ball in the box again in the 38th minute and finished to the right of the net.
The Stags continued to show the tough mentality that they are trying to build this season. Goudreault sprinted down the left wing and found Brown towards the right side of the box, and the senior easily finished for the score. Brown almost scored earlier in the contest when Anna Borea launched a free kick into the box, and Brown flicked the ball off the right post in the 15th minute.
UC Irvine picked up the tempo in the second half, collecting nine shots in the first 30 minutes of the frame. The Anteater pressure was able to get to the Stags, as the home side was rewarded with a penalty kick in the 65th minute and was able to convert the opportunity. UC Irvine closed their scoring with a long shot by Kiana Palacios, who also scored the penalty kick.
Brown answered again in the 82nd minute, taking a pass from Sara Plowman and striking a shot outside the box.
Up until the scoring barrage, the Stags showed more defensive intensity with Pike picking up a couple of diving saves and Mel Hingher recording two defensive saves, doubling the amount Fairfield had all of last season.
Although the scoreboard reflects a four-goal game, Pike showed her improvement not only with seven difficult saves, but also showed more confidence in net.
“Jenna was spectacular,” Coach O'Brien said. “Nothing less than spectacular. She made five big time saves which was a very impressive performance. The goals that were scored were restarts, penalty kicks, things that we can prevent. None of the goals were a fault from her and the saves she made were spectacular.”
The final score might have said 4-2, but every member of the roster showed why this year will be different. Whether it was the bench standing on their feet with two minutes left, or the Stags' captain Borea urging her team in the final minute, or Daley fighting for the ball with 10 seconds left, this squad showed a character that will be the focal point of this 2016 unit.
They will have another chance to show the West Coast this character when they take on Long Beach State on Sunday at 8pm EST.
