JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- On a rain-swept afternoon, the Fairfield University men's soccer team took one step closer toward its goal of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season title with a 1-0 win at Saint Peter's University on Saturday afternoon. Just as he has all season long, Head Coach
Carl Rees appreciates his team's effort but keeps the squad focused on the one goal it has had all season long - defending its MAAC regular-season and tournament championships.
"The players were focused and demonstrated tremendous competitive maturity today," Coach Rees said. "We haven't won any type of championship yet. We still have an important match against Manhattan on Wednesday night."
But Wednesday night had any meaning, the Stags took the pitch this afternoon with the notion that a result was needed today before the Manhattan game would come into play. The Peacocks entered today's meeting with a four-game winning streak and was making a strong run at a top tournament seeding. Today's weather did not help either's team offensive runs as wind gusts and slick conditions prohibited much ball movement. The two teams combined for just eight shots on goal in the 90 minutes of play with the Peacocks holding a slight edge at 5-3.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Gordon Botterill posted his third clean sheet in four outings by making five saves, four of which came in the first half. In the second half, the Stags was able to keep Saint Peter's searching for opportunities without too much danger. The Peacocks took nine shots in the match with a near split in total, taking four shots in the first half and five shots in the second half. Saint Peter's goalkeeper Jason Dubrovitch made two saves in the game, the first of which came in the opening minutes of the match.
Marcus Nordgard, who returned the lineup last week, continued to embrace his new position up front by testing the Peacocks' goalkeeper with a header that forced Dubrovitch to make a diving stop to keep the game scoreless.
Fairfield eventually broke through in the second half when freshman
Jonathan Filipe took control of the ball inside the box and move through a couple of defenders to push a shot past the goalkeeper which gave the lea to the Stags in the 70th minute. Fairfield kept Saint Peter's in check for the final 20 minutes although the Peacocks had a solid chance in the closing minutes when a free kick was awarded in the 86th minute. Tom Coulson took the free kick but sent the ball over the crossbar to keep the Stags' lead intact.
"We adapted in terms of depth and were flexible tactically which allowed us to grow in influence as the game developed," Coach Rees said. "
Diego Casielles and
Jonas Vergin led by example while
Santiago Gonzalez and
Jonathan Filipe along with the crucial work of
Cooper Knecht gave us a different dimension in attack."
Fairfield will now set its attention the Manhattan College Jaspers, a team which is also making a run at a MAAC tournament spot. The Stags will host Manhattan on Wednesday night at Lessing Field with the match slated for a 7 pm start.
