Men’s Soccer Finishes in 1-1 Draw at Fairfield

Tuesday, September 22

Fairfield, Conn.

7 PM ET

Army West Point

2-3-2

Fairfield

1-2-4

OT 1

OT 2

Army West Point

Fairfield

Men’s Soccer Finishes in 1-1 Draw at Fairfield

September 22, 2015 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Army West Point men's soccer team held a 1-0 lead at halftime before its game at Fairfield finished in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night at Lessing Field.

Army moves to 2-3-2 overall and 2-0-2 in its last four matches, while Fairfield snaps a one-game losing streak and goes to 1-2-4.

Junior Christian Ollen put the Black Knights on the board early after intercepting a failed clearing attempt in the 11th minute and finding the back of the net for the second time this season.

"I think we started the game very well," said head coach Russell Payne. "Grabbing a goal in an early period in the game really showed that we came with the right mentality. Fairfield is a great team and we give full credit to them."

Army's defense was tested with shot by Fairfield in the 17th minute, but blocked away the danger to preserve its one-goal advantage.

Army junior Nick Williams sent a shot wide of Fairfield's net in the 23rd minute before the Stags made a quick transition into their attacking end. The transition resulted in a long shot off the foot of Steven Valente that senior Chris Britt saved in the 25th minute. Britt registered four saves in the match.

Fairfield had the only two shots during the final 15 minutes of the half, with attempts from Ben Wignall and Dominic Marshall missing the target in the 39th and 44th minutes, respectively, as the Black Knights entered the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

Army came away with the first shot of the second half as senior Cody Guerry fired an attempt wide in the 47th minute, but Fairfield soon found the equalizer with a header from Dominic Marshall that followed a cross by Valente in the 50th minute.

"I was really proud of our first-half effort and I think in the second half, we allowed a little too much play from Fairfield in our half of the field," Payne added.

The Stags nearly scored again in the 57th minute when Jonathan Uy ripped a shot off of Army's crossbar before Black Knights' sophomore Shaban Abousaud sent an attempt on target that was blocked away by a Fairfield defender 1:10 later.

Britt was tested again in the 65th minute, but saved a chance at a go-ahead goal by Wignall before Army responded with a shot of its own as freshman Christian Lue Young had his shot go wide in the 66th minute.

Army's defense blocked its second shot of the night, getting in the way of a chance by Marshall in the 75th minute in what was the only shot for either team in the remainder of regulation.

Army junior Nick Williams got things started quickly in overtime as he sent a shot off the crossbar in the 92nd minute, just missing his third goal and second game winner of the season. Britt saved a late attempt from Fairfield with just one second remaining in the first overtime period to send the Black Knights and the Stags into double overtime.

Freshman Grayson Naquin, who came into the game for the Black Knights late in the second half recorded Army's only shot of the second overtime period, putting an attempt on net that Fairfield goalkeeper Matt Turner saved for his only stop of the game. Britt made a save in the final minute of action to prevent the Stags from the late victory.

"This was another game where we showed tremendous growth defensively and we continued to be dangerous on offense for the entire game and I think that will serve us well going into league play," Payne said.

Army begins Patriot League competition on Saturday, as the Black Knights make the trip to Easton, Pa., to face Lafayette at 1 p.m. The Leopards are ranked sixth in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America Northeast Region poll.

MATCH NOTES: Tuesday's result was the first tie in the Army-Fairfield series as the all-time record moves to 8-1-1 in favor of the Black Knights … freshman Christian Lue Young appeared in the starting 11 for the first time in his career … Army moves to 0-1-2 in overtime games this season.