In the world of men’s soccer, The Fairfield University Stags (2-4-4, 0-1-2) failed to get their first conference win when they took on the Iona University Gaels (7-2-1, 2-0-1), playing to a 0-0 tie in double overtime. 

Fairfield goalie, Gordon Botterill ‘21, and the Fairfield defense kept the Iona offense at bay, stopping all six shots put forth by the Gaels. This was Botterill’s fourth shutout, or clean sheet, of the entire season. The Iona offense poured on in the second overtime with a barrage of shots on Botterill, with none of them put home by the Iona offense, allowing Fairfield to preserve the tie. Botterill’s shutout was able to boost his goals against average to 1.27 in his ten appearances as the Fairfield goalie. 

The Fairfield defense played at the top of their game, as they were able to keep the Iona offense from scoring even with the Iona offense dominating the stat-sheet. The Gaels had a total of twenty-one shots to Fairfield’s twelve and eleven corner kicks, including two in the second overtime period to Fairfield’s three. 

Offensively, Fairfield was not able to muster up many chances offensively, only getting three shots on net. Junior Matt McGlinchey put forth Fairfield’s best scoring chance in the seventy-seventh minute, but was turned away by Iona netminder Guiliano Santucci. McGlinchey was one of the three Stags to get a shot on net, along with Marcus Nordgaard ‘20, and Jack Weiss ‘22. Sophomore Conner Knecht also put three shots up, but none of them were on target. Fairfield was not able to get a single shot on net during either of the overtime periods, as Iona dominated play. 

All in all, coming out of this matchup with a tie could be looked at as a victory for the Stags, as the Gaels are placed at the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and dominated offensively. 

The Fairfield Stags will look to get their first conference win, as they go on the road to Poughkeepsie, New York to take on the Marist College Red Foxes (4-6, 1-2) on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Then to round out the week the Stags return home on Alumni and Parents Weekend to take on the Monmouth Hawks (1-8-2, 1-2-1) on Saturday night, Oct. 19 at 7:00 p.m. on Lessing Field.  

 

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