FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- After three grueling matches in group play, former Fairfield University goalkeeper Matt Turner and the the United States Men's National Team will begin play in the World Cup knockout round on Saturday. The USMNT will face the Netherlands, ranked eighth in the FIFA rankings, at 10 am ET with a trip to the quarterfinals at stake. 

Turner posted two clean sheets in the three matches played during Group B play which came in a 0-0 draw with England and a 1-0 decision over Iran that sent the USMNT forward in the World Cup. The performance marked the first since 1930 that the USMNT posted two shutouts in World Cup play. Turner did not allow a goal in open play, only conceding a goal on a penalty kick against Wales in the opener. He started with two saves in the draw with Wales before picking up three more saves against England. Turner faced four shots against Iran and was forced to make one save in the match.

The Netherlands came out of Group A with the top position following its wins over Qatar (2-0) and Senegal (2-0) and its draw with Ecuador (1-1). Cory Gakpo scored in all three matches, becoming the fourth Netherlands player to accomplish the task. He is one of six players in the 2022 World Cup to have three goals tucked away after group play. Goalkeeper Andries Noppert made his international debut in the win against Senegal and continued on in the Ecuador and Qatar matches. He has recorded two clean sheets through group play.

As a member of the Fairfield University men's soccer team, Turner was the team's starting goalkeeper as a junior and as a senior. In his final campaign with the Stags, he played in all 18 games in 2015 and recorded a .793 save percentage with a 0.98 goals against average. Turner collected seven shutouts in just over 1750 minutes of action, playing every minute of the season. He earned a berth to the All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) second team.

In his junior campaign, Turner led the nation in save percentage by stopping 89 percent of the shots he faced in 2014 (78 saves, 10 goals allowed) and helped the Stags lead the nation in shutout percentage by not allowing a goal in 72 percent of the games in which he played. He ended his season with a 0.50 goals against average. He earned two MAAC defensive player of the week awards and was named to the MAAC All-Tournament team after helping the Stags reach the championship game.