FAIRFIELD, Conn. – From the fans' perspective, preseason scrimmages don't really amount to much especially those dates that are played so early in training camp. Coaches have a different take on these early friendlies because the dates give them a chance to try out new lineup combinations, provide opportunity to newcomers, and help gauge where the team is in its development for the upcoming season.

                Over the opening week of camp, the Fairfield University men's soccer team hosted two preseason scrimmages = and came away with a win and a draw. While both results may not have resulted in a pair of "Ws", Head Coach Carl Rees saw the match as win-win for both the team and the coaches.

                "Going into a scrimmage, we (coaches) have specific things that we want to get out of the competition," Rees said. "We want to take a look at the incoming freshmen and see how they compare to the returning upperclassmen, as well as see how players can perform at different positions and in combination with other teammates. There are specific positional demands and right now we are trying to find guys to fit those demands and have success."

                Rees put together a few player rotations that created several scoring chances, but an unfriendly bounce, a goal post, and some fine play by the opposing goalkeeper kept Fairfield from adding a second or third goal in the friendly. But it was the coach's ability to experiment that led to the team's first goal of the preseason which was provided by Ben Wignall.

                "Wignall started the play when he popped the ball up front to Tommy (Lozowski)," Rees said. "I remember Ben was disappointed with the shape of the pass. We encouraged Tommy to keep the ball alive and sure enough the ball spun back to him. Tommy latched onto it sent the ball back to Ben who punched the ball down low past the goalkeeper. It was one of those partnerships that we wanted to try out in this scrimmage and it worked out well for us."

                For Lozowski, it was a good way to finish a night which saw him play four different positions over the course of the game. Wignall was also pushed forward by the coaches from his midfield position to try and create a scoring chance.

                "It was typical of those two players and their work rate," Rees said. "Tommy is hard-working and blue collar so it doesn't matter where you put him on the pitch. Ben has a knack to score goals and is a determined front player and putting him up front was the difference."

                Rees also used the outings to view other partnerships among his student-athletes so he could bet a better idea of how things could shake out for the team's opener at Oregon State later this month.

                "We wanted to take a look at different players in the back – right side, left side and likewise in the middle of the midfield," Rees said. "Even the goalkeepers rotated in the scrimmage to get game experience."

                With so much at stake during a short preseason camp, Rees really doesn't focus on the result but rather how the team responds to game situations and to each other in the heat of competition.
                "The guys were excited about playing and enjoyed being out there and the scrimmages enabled us to work on things we put forth in training," Rees said. "The results are not what's important but rather the development and the progress of the group in relation to what we instruct during training is vital."

                When the games end, the team along with the staff examine what took place in those 90 minutes and how their performances can lead to improvement individually and as a group.

                "First of all, we encourage the players and staff to reflect on the game and evaluate what happened," Rees said. "We need to assess what we did and how it relates to our goals and our progress collectively to achieving those goals. Within that broad evaluation, we look specifically at how we applied what we worked on in training and if it was successful. The cycle is play, reflect, evaluate, train, and play again."

                Rees will have one more chance to see his team against an opponent during the preseason, which should create more chances for reflection and evaluation.

                "The team is working hard at preparing for the season," Rees said. "It's a good balance and a good group. I am really enjoying working with these guys. We are getting good feedback from the captains and establishing a good rapport with the new guys. That's what really counts more so than the final result."