FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The maturation of a young team can be arduous especially in the early season when student-athletes are still learning. Tonight, the Fairfield University men's soccer team took another step in that process by beating a solid Army West Point team by a 2-1 score in overtime, a side that had gone unbeaten in its previous four matches.
The win was important as are all wins, especially since this marked the Stags' first home game of the 2018 season. But the decision was even more vital because it came in overtime. All three of Fairfield's losses this year came in overtime so this result only emboldened a young team that need to break through in extra time.
"We came off the field after regulation like wounded warriors," Head Coach
Carl Rees said. "I told them to stop feeling sorry for yourselves and prove that we can win in overtime. These out of conference games teach you so much and now they proved to themselves they can win in overtime. It's part of the process. They didn't know how to win an away game, they didn't know how to hold a lead, they didn't know how to come from behind, they didn't know how to win in overtime. Tonight they proved it all."
As has been the case for part of this season, the young Stags showed magical moments only to have those instances eclipsed by a misplay. Such was the case this evening as a defensive lapse in the final minute erased what appeared to be a Fairfield win in regulation.
Both teams spent a remarkable amount of time in the midfield with neither side being able to work more than two or three passes in succession. Defensive play in the final thirds often thwarted any momentum from taking hold. Limited chances surfaced at various times of the half but none were finished to send the squads into the locker rooms with a scoreless draw.
Keenan O'Shea created mischief on several occasions in the second half, testing Fairfield's defense inside the box. His best early chance came in the 72nd minute when he found some open space about 12 yards from goal but his shot sailed over the cross bar to keep the game scoreless.
Diego Casielles nearly put a goal on the board when he created a chance on the left side of the box but his shot skipped wide of the far post.
Both of those student-athletes would be playing a role in tonight's decision, redeeming themselves with a goal. But before their heroics were known, a pair of Fairfield freshmen took center stage by working some of their own magic in the 83rd minute.
Cooper Knecht started the scoring play at the top of the box, trying to find an opening with his back to the goal. He eventually maneuvered enough to face the goal and skipped a pass to
Jack Weiss on the left side of the box. The midfielder released a shot that caught the far corner of the goal to give the lead to the Stags at 83:44.
"Jack doesn't show any stress on the pitch," Coach Rees said. "It doesn't matter who he plays against because he's a handful. He's off the bench, a good one-on-one dribbler, he scores goals, he get assists and tonight he gave a mature finish. I also thought Cooper did a good job keeping the ball alive in the chaos and served the ball on a plate to Jack."
The Stags appeared to do enough to keep Army West Point at arm's length over the closing minutes, adeptly handling the Black Knights' offensive pressure. With one last chance available, the visitors took full advantage when Alex Peralta secured the ball in the near corner and used footwork to move inside the box before sending a cross to O'Shea. The junior one-timed the ball past goalkeeper
Gordon Botterill, who came off his line to try and cut down the angle, with 16 seconds on the clock.
But as Coach Rees had hoped, the Stags continued their evolution by creating an opportunity in the first two minutes of first overtime and, most importantly, finishing that chance. Army West Point's goalkeeper came out to try and stop an oncoming Fairfield player who was making his move toward the goal. The duo became entangled and the Fairfield student-athlete was pulled down, causing the referee to point to the spot.
Casielles was called upon by Coach Rees and the senior calmly drilled a shot past the goalkeeper to end the game in the 92nd minute. The game-winning goal was Casielles' third in the last four matches.
"I think we are still a work in progress and far from being the end product," Coach Rees observed. "We have to stay humble. We are 3-3 against a difficult non-conference schedule but that's a credit to a young team that is learning on the fly. Our character is good and our standards are set. Hopefully that prepares us for those critical games in conference play."
Before play starts against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents, the Stags have one more non-conference game on the slate. Fairfield will host St. Joseph's University on Saturday night at Lessing Field. Game time is 7 pm.
