FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Another collective effort by the Fairfield University men's soccer team allowed the Stags to extend their unbeaten streak to five matches with a 2-1 win over Siena University on Saturday night. More importantly, the victory put Fairfield a foot up in the Metro Conference standings as the game represented the conference opener for both sides.
"I thought tonight was one of better games so far," Head Coach
Krystian Witkowski said. "Siena is a well-coached and an extremely difficult opponent, so I was happy with how we controlled the game. We limited their moments throughout the match. We were able to play a lot of players so I was really happy with our team effort."
All the scoring came in the first half with Fairfield gaining the early lead, scoring with just three minutes elapsed from the clock.
Cameron Gerber finished a cross from
Cristian Ortiz at the 2:35 mark of the game. Ortiz made a run down the right flank, cut toward the box, and sent a ball to the middle of the box where Gerber waited to complete the chance.
The game became even in the 13
th minute after Fairfield was called for a foul inside the box, setting up Lucas Almeida's penalty kick goal to the upper corner. It would be the only shot on goal through the first 45 minutes for the Saints.
The Stags were able to regain the lead in the 20
th minute when
Marques Nana-Sinkam sent a brilliant ball into the middle of the box where
Cristiano Carlos was stationed. The freshman rose straight up to put a head on the ball, redirecting it into the far corner for a 2-1 lead.
The second half proved to be more offensive in regard to challenges against the goalkeepers. But Fairfield's
Evan Chomow and Siena's Bennet Glinder were equal to the task each time.
Chomow became quite occupied over the final 10 minutes of the match as Siena was able to attempt five shots over the final 20 minutes. Two shots required acrobatic saves from Fairfield's keeper, the first coming in the 80
th minute and the second in the 83
rd minute.
Fairfield also tested Glinder in the second half with the best opportunity coming in the 73
rd minute, courtesy of
Sean Albritton's shot that forced Glinder to deflect the ball away from danger.
Ethan Prescott also placed an attempt toward goal that took good effort from Glinder to keep the ball out of the goal.
By game's end, Fairfield outshot Siena by a 14-10 count with Chomow making three saves and Glinder garnering a pair of stops.
Nana-Sinkam and Ortiz both picked up their second assist of the season tonight. Nana-Sinkham has back-to-back matches with an assist while Ortiz has a point in three of his last four matches. Carlos has now placed his name on the scoring ledger in each of his six games this year, leading the team with five goals and with his 11 total points. He also has registered all three game-winning goals for the Stags to date.
For its next outing, the Fairfield University men's soccer team will return to the pitch for an in-state match up with Quinnipiac College on Saturday, September 26 with a game time set for 2 pm. It's the first of two straight road dates that will also send Fairfield to Saint Peter's University on Wednesday, September 30. The Stags next home game takes place on Saturday, October 3 at 6 pm against Manhattan University.
