HOUSTON –Fairfield started the scoring in the eighth minute while HBU answered with one of their own in the 74
th minute, after two overtimes the score remained 1-1, in the final game of the Marriott Houston West Chase Classic Sunday night at Sorrels Field.
"The thing that we've been stressing since Friday is to make sure we are outworking the opponent and tonight our guys showed they are willing to battle and that was important," head coach
Steve Jones said. "They came out and worked hard, we had a little slip up early in the game where they scored, but from that point on I thought we did a great job of connecting passes, to defending, to defending in numbers. The biggest thing that was noticeable from Friday to here was the work rate – the guys just battled and battled and we found a way to get back in and score."
The single goal for the Huskies (0-1-1) came off of sophomore midfielder
Darrell Johnson's foot in the 74
th minute thanks to the ball crossed from junior forward Marc-Anthone and the deflection of freshman forward
Brandon Garland. Marc-Anthone and senior midfielder
Erick Aragon also each tallied one shot on goal.
"There are a couple of chances I wish we could get back that might have ended that game in regulation or in overtime for sure, but with this young team, it was good to see that we didn't quit, we didn't lose heart, we stayed focused, we didn't panic, we kept pushing and kept pressing, then they got some cards that hurt them. At the end of the day, Fairfield is not a bad side and our guys came to battle to prove that Friday night is not who we are. We saw a lot of good progress tonight and see if we can build on that."
Sophomore goalkeeper
Chance Pope went all 110 minutes with seven saves with one goal against. HBU had plenty of chances to end the game during both overtime periods, even playing with a man advantage for the final 15 minutes after Fairfield's
Dequan Thomas was sent off, but couldn't find the back of the net in time.
The Steven Valente to Ben Wignall combo in the eighth minute gave Fairfield (0-0-2) the lead for 66 minutes. Dominic Marshal led Fairfield with three of his five shots on target. Joe Martin played all 110 minutes while making two saves and one goal against.
HBU lead the stats in total corner kicks, 6-2. Fairfield lead the stats in total shots, 16-15, as well as yellow cards received, 6-3.
The Huskies host Huston-Tillotson Friday at 7 p.m., then travel to Edinburg, Texas, to take on Presbyterian on a neutral pitch Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
