FAIRFIELD, Conn. –
Marcus Nordgard didn't care where he was placed on the pitch, just as long as he was able to break back into the lineup after missing time with an injury. So when Head Coach
Carl Rees tried to shake things up against Quinnipiac University on Saturday night, he sent Nordgard up front rather than his familiar spot with the back four.
The junior created havoc in the Stags' offensive third for most of the night but in the end neither Fairfield nor Quinnipiac could solve superior goalkeeping by both sides resulting in a 0-0 draw at Lessing Field. Still, Nordgard was just happy to join his teammates on the pitch and have a little fun again.
"It was wonderful being back in there and was something I was looking forward for some time," Nordgard said. "Sitting on the bench is never fun especially when it's going good for the boys so you want to be out there experiencing that. And when it is going badly for the boys, you want to be out there to help out. I played more than I thought I would."
He earned that opportunity midway through the first half when Coach Rees pointed his way and sent him up front to provide help up front.
"We need a focal point on attack and needed someone in the central area where we could feed balls in and bounce ball off along with an aerial threat in the box and Marcus fit that need," Coach Rees said. "We had the back boxed off so I felt we need help on attack and he was a handful tonight."
Nordgard stands at 6-3 and 205 pounds so he certainly fit the bill in terms of giving Fairfield someone with whom his teammates could work in creating opportunities. And when Quinnipiac changed up its defensive effort and marked him with a pair of defenders, he was able to distribute the ball. Tonight, he certainly lived up to his nickname "The Great Dane."
"That's a fun nickname," Nordgard said through a smile. "I think it was Angus (Hastings) and Ben (Wignall) that started the name midway through last season. I guess being from Denmark and have some height makes it work."
Nordgard's first opportunity came in the final minute of the first half after being on the pitch for about 10 minutes, sending a shot toward the corner that forced Quinnipiac goalkeeper Chrysostomos Iakovidis to make one of his eight saves on the night. He also created opportunities especially at the top of the box when the Quinnipiac back four would collapse on him, opening up teammates for potential dangerous situations.
He nearly put the Stags in front in the 81st minute with another shot that seemed destined for the back of the net but once again Iakovidis was equal to the task and turned away the chance. His final shot was put wide in the second overtime.
While Nordgard created chances in the offensive third, the Stags received another strong performance from their backs and goalkeeper in the defensive third.
Gordon Botterill picked up the clean sheet with five saves in his 110 minutes of work, including two acrobatic saves in the first overtime. Quinnipiac's best opportunity of the match was a 96th minute shot from defender Jordan Bennett who cut across the box and released a shot from 18 yards away that forced Botterill to full extension just to get a hand on the ball and to send it past the far post.
With the scoreless draw, Fairfield stayed unbeaten in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play at 6-0-1 and kept it ahead of Quinnipiac which stands at 5-1-1 after seven matches. Despite a seven-game unbeaten streak, Coach Rees still felt that the Stags had enough opportunities to win tonight.
"I was disappointed because I thought we created the better chances between the two teams," Coach Rees said. "Having said that though we are still undefeated in the conference after playing a good team like Quinnipiac. We played well defensively with
Jonas Vergin giving us some good performances once again. I just can't help thinking we had chances to win that game. But still it was a great effort with a lot of people being involved tonight."
The Stags will have another difficult opponent on the docket when they host Marist College on Wednesday night at Lessing Field as the Red Foxes come into the match with a 5-1-1 MAAC mark and need a result to tie Fairfield for the top spot in the conference. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm.
