FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The Sacred Heart University men's soccer team defeated Fairfield, 4–3, in an overtime thriller in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinal on Thursday evening at Park Ave Field.
The top-seeded Pioneers held their composure despite a late equalizer from the fourth-seeded Stags. Sacred Heart ultimately broke through in overtime when a pinpoint pass from Axier Zeberio set up senior captain David Garcia Gallego for the decisive header.
With the win, Sacred Heart clinched a spot in the MAAC Championship game, where the Pioneers will face second-seeded Siena at 12 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, at Park Ave Field.
Records
#1 Sacred Heart (9-3-5)
#4 Fairfield (8-5-5)
Top Performers
• David Garcia Gallego – 1 goal, 2 assists
• Ivan Morcillo – 2 goals, 3 shots on goal
• Danny Istambouli – 1 goal, 1 assist
Between the Pipes
SHU: Luca Marinelli (W, 9-1-3) – 3 goals against | 4 saves
Fairfield: Evan Chomow (L, 6-5-3) – 4 goals against | 6 saves
How It Happened
In the 28th minute, Ivan Morcillo opened the scoring with a right-footed finish off passes from Garcia Gallego and Istambouli to give the Pios a 1–0 lead. Fairfield's Sean Albritton equalized in the 46th minute to make it 1–1.
In the 54th minute, Istambouli converted a feed from Garcia Gallego to restore the SHU lead at 2–1. Fairfield answered again in the 68th minute, capitalizing on a Sacred Heart foul as Cameron Garber buried the ensuing free kick to level the match at 2–2.
In the 76th minute, Morcillo was brought down in the box by a Fairfield defender, earning the Pios a penalty kick. Morcillo converted to put SHU ahead 3–2. The Stags responded quickly in the 79th minute, as Cole Dougherty finished a sequence set up by Jordan Blunshi and Garber to tie the match at 3–3.
Regulation wasn't enough to settle the rivalry, sending the contest into overtime. Garcia Gallego delivered the winner, heading home a service from Zeberio Guereno to send the Pioneers to the MAAC Championship game for the first time in program history.
Of Note
• Garcia Gallego and Istambouli each scored their sixth goal of the season.
• SHU earned its first-ever home MAAC playoff win.
Up Next
Sacred Heart will host the MAAC Championship game on Sunday, November 16, at 12 p.m. at Park Ave Field.
