FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It took time. It took patience. And it took perseverance.
In the end, the Fairfield University men's soccer team exhibited all three characteristics in tonight's 1-0 win over Saint Peter's University at Lessing Field.
Ben Wignall provided the winning margin by scoring with 1:33 left in regulation. The victory kept the Stags on pace for one of the six MAAC tournament playoff spots, giving the team 10 points with three wins and a tie at the halfway point of the conference season.
"Once again, the team comes through in the latter stages of the game," Head Coach
Carl Rees said. "It's indicative of the closeness and sprit of our group."
While the score reflects a close game, the reality was that Fairfield had multiple opportunities to put goals on the board. But a far post, a cross bar, and several stellar saves by the Peacocks goalkeeper Robbie Anderson kept this game scoreless until the final 90 seconds of regulation.
Credit must be given to the scrappy Saint Peter's side which allowed Fairfield to bring the ball into the final third but always seemed to step into a passing lane or strip the ball before the Stags could create dangerous situations.
Fairfield nearly gained a one-goal edge six minutes into the game when
Don-Junior Bobe finagled his way through a pair of Peacock defenders and sent a ball that seemed destined for the far corner. But the ball skirted off the post instead and ricocheted over the touch line, giving Saint Peter's an early reprieve.
Matt McGlinchey nearly gave the Stags a one-goal lead in the first half as well as he delivered a shot that sailed over the reach of Anderson but bounced hard off the cross bar before being cleared by a Saint Peter's defender.
But given those two boosts from the posts, Anderson held his own by making five saves in his 90 minutes of work. Four of those stops came in the second half, including a diving effort off a miraculous run by
Marcus Nordgard. The defender secured the ball near midfield and race down the left flank on a strong counter. He found open space just inside the 18-yard box and sent a shot to the low left corner that Anderson was able to deflect away with the palm of his hand.
With under two minutes remaining in regulation, the Stags were awarded a free kick 35 yards from the target.
Diego Casielles pushed his team forward and stood over the ball for one more run at the win. The midfielder hit a crisp ball that landed in the box but went unclaimed until
Ben Wignall collected the ball and calmly hit a winner that went far corner without any chance for the Saint Peter's goalkeeper.
"It was fitting that
Ben Wignall, one of our leaders of our family, rifled home the game winner tonight," Rees said.
Gordon Botterill picked up his fourth shutout of the season, the seventh time in nine appearance in which he allowed one goal or less. The freshman posted two saves in the game, including one off a header from Ezequiel Cei that required full extension in order to grab the shot.
"Another clean sheet and another three points in the standings," Rees added. "I'm really proud of the collective effort, including our assistant coaches' (Javier DeCima and
Jonny Raj) this week."
The Stags will make a quick road trip to Iona College on Saturday for an afternoon game and Manhattan on October 18 before returning to Lessing Field for Monmouth on October 25.
