Box Score FAIRFIELD, Conn. - After four straight road games to open the 2014 season, the Sacred Heart men's soccer team opened its home slate Saturday with a 1-0 loss to the Marist Red Foxes at Campus Field.
Sacred Heart (0-4-1) had an early shot on goal in the fourth minute when Mahmoud Kafel (Fairfield, Conn.) fired a long shot that turned into an easy save for Marist goalkeeper Mark Rajovic. The Red Foxes responded with a MJ Stellwag shot on a free kick two minutes later that was saved by Tucker Hackett (Madison, Conn.). Marist broke through for the game's lone goal in the 14th minute of the first half. Steven Arraiano played a long throughball to Brian Coyt, who snuck a shot inside the near post to give the Red Foxes a 1-0 lead. Erik Dahl almost put Marist ahead 2-0 in the 31st minute but Hackett was equal to the task and stopped his attempt at goal. Freshman Ezra Siyadhuba (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) nearly tied the game in the 41st minute, putting a long shot on goal that was stopped by Rajovic.
The Marist (4-1) defense was resolute in the second half, holding the Pioneers to just three shots. Kafel had a chance to level the game in the 58th minute but Rajovic made a save to keep the game 1-0. Two minutes later Siyadhuba sent a shot wide of the goal. Sacred Heart's last shot on goal in the game came in the 72nd minute as Ermir Celaj's (Brookfield, Conn.) shot from close range was saved. Hackett did his part to keep the game 1-0 with three saves in the final 12 minutes, but the Pioneers could not get the equalizer as Marist hung on for the 1-0 win.
The Red Foxes outshot the Pioneers 13-8 for the game, and 8-3 in the second half. Hackett made seven saves for Sacred Heart as Rajovic had four for the shutout. Each team had four corner kicks.
Sacred Heart returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 17 with a 7 p.m. game at Rhode Island.
