EMMETSBURG, Md. – For the second straight game, the Fairfield University men's soccer team knocked a Metro Conference team from the unbeaten ranks with the Stags 3-0 win at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday. Fairfield remains the only unbeaten program left in the Metro men's soccer standings at 5-0 while the Mount falls to 2-1-2 in conference play.
"This was a very gritty win and I am proud of the boys especially with such a short turnaround," Head Coach
Krystian Witkowski said. "The Mount is a very good team and they had a couple of chances but we were able to maintain the clean sheet."
The Stags controlled play from the onset with the Mountaineers having moments of success but never having the ability to create a sustained attack. Fairfield started with an aggressive attack that managed three shots in the first six minutes, one of which required a save from goalkeeper Ryan Collins.
The Mount did not put its first shot on target until the 10
th minute when Abou Cherif sent the ball toward goal. Goalkeeper
Evan Chomow was equal to the task by making his first save.
The pressure continued throughout the half with Fairfield adding to its shot total throughout the half. The Stags broke through in the 32
nd minute after
Massimo Murania fed a cross to the middle of the box that caught
Cole Dougherty in stride. He redirected the pass into the upper corner of the goal for a 1-0 Fairfield lead.
The Stags were able to sustain their attack in the second half, adding three shots in the opening minutes. The team doubled its advantage in the 67
th minute when
Cristiano Carlos found himself open on the right side of the pitch, allowing him to send the ball into the box.
Cameron Gerber put a shot on goal which was turned away by Collins but the ball found its way back to
Pipeloore Olanrewaju. The sophomore pushed the rebound toward the open left side of the goal for a 2-0 lead.
Fairfield remained relentless in the offensive third, using ball movement to create opportunity after opportunity. And once again, the Stags were able to turn an offensive chance into a third goal.
Sean Albritton found open space near the top of the box and pushed a shot toward goal that was deflected by Collins.
Cristian Ortiz followed up the initial shot and lofted a shot over a Mount defender and into the upper right corner for a 3-0 lead.
By game's end, Fairfield managed to piece together 21 shots with nine being on goal. Mount St. Mary's posted nine shots in the match with two of those attempts requiring saves from Chomow. The result was Chomow's fourth clean sheet of the season and third in the last four contests.
The Stags will return home for a Wednesday night match up with Marist University at Lessing Field. The Metro Conference contest will begin at 7 pm.
