The Stags’ stagnant offense finally broke out of its slump this weekend, scoring six goals in two games and helping the women’s soccer team win the BAE Systems Classic hosted by Army in West Point, N.Y.
The struggling Fairfield team entered the weekend 0-3-2 but was able to beat Delaware 4-2 and Army 2-1 for its first two victories of the season.
The wins give the Stags a much needed confidence boost and some momentum heading into their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game against Iona on Friday at 3 p.m.
Fairfield was not discouraged by its slow start this season, said second year Head Coach Jim O’ Brien.
“The way we had our schedule set up, with our hardest competition in early games, will help us be more prepared for when we play in our conference,” said O’ Brien.
“This weekend will help prepare us for our conference games by building our confidence and giving us momentum,” O’Brien added. “Six goals against schools as good as Delaware and Army are big for any team.”
Fairfield won its first game on Friday afternoon thanks to a big offensive output from a team that scored only two goals in its previous five games.
Delaware, which came into the game 5-0-1, stuck with the Stags through the first half of a rainy, overcast game but could not match the offensive onslaught brought on by Fairfield throughout the game.
Delaware struck first, as Melissa Kilker scored three and half minutes into the first half. Fairfield answered quickly when Ahna Johnson ’09 knocked the ball through goalkeeper Bonnie Mills’s legs after a corner kick.
Delaware regained the lead when a long shot from Kendall Lytwynec found its way into the net. M.T. Church ’08 was able to tie it back up. Church scored again on a penalty kick with just 36 seconds left in the first half.
It was all about the Stags in the second half. Forward Casey Frobey ’10 scored two goals, helping her earn the title of MAAC women’s soccer Player of the Week and giving her team its first and last lead of the game.
Goalkeeper Brett Maron ’08 was able to shut out Delaware the rest of the way to secure Fairfield’s first win of the season.
“I think all of the hard work in practice has really started to pay off,” said Frobey of the win. “The team is finally starting to click and we’re playing like we know we can.”
The championship game on Sunday was a different story but had the same ending. Unlike the back and forth game that took place Friday, Fairfield took an early lead and played good defense to hold on for the win.
The Stags scored twice in the first half: first on a header by Johnson and then on a 25- yard shot by Chrissie Sidie ’10. Once they were comfortably ahead of the Army team, the Stags relied on good defense and solid goaltending by Maron to maintain the lead.
The only goal scored by the Army team came with just five and a half minutes left in regulation time by Ronee Farrell. But it was too little too late for the Black Knights, who fell in front of an estimated home crowd of 500 to give the BAE Systems Tournament victory to Fairfield.
Leave a Reply