JERSEY CITY, NJ - The Saint Peter's University men's soccer team had its 2020-21 season come to an end Sunday afternoon, as the team was defeated, 1-0, by Fairfield in the final minutes of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Soccer Championship Quarterfinal. The game featured tough conditions with constant wind and rain, and went most of its duration without a score from either side. The Stags were able to find the back of the Saint Peter's net in the 89th minute though, ending the Peacocks' third straight playoff run.
Game Notes:
- Neither side was able to attempt a shot through the first 10 minutes of Sunday's match, until senior captain Jordan Jowers fired a missile from 20 yards out in the 11th minute that sailed just right of target.
- The Stags retaliated with a controlled offensive attack over the next five minutes, recording four shots. The attempts included one strong attempt on Saint Peter's goal, but the shot was thwarted by a fantastic diving save from senior goalkeeper Robbie Anderson.
- Another attempt from Jowers would come at the 20' mark but would miss high and left this time around.
- Fairfield went on another offensive streak, recording the game's next three shot attempts over the span of 22 minutes, including two shots on goal that were denied by Anderson.
- Jowers and classmate Dominic Laws would each fire off one more attempt right before half, but the shots were brought up short by Stags defenders.
- Neither side was able to find the mark again until Fairfield put a shot on goal at the 75' mark, but Anderson was there to collect the ball at the center of the net.
- Jowers would record his first two shots on goal in the next five minutes, but could not get past Fairfield's keeper for the score.
- Finally, in the 89th minute, the Stags were able to find the back of the Peacocks' net off a corner kick that was headed in by Fairfield's Hugo Hurtado with just 1:02 left on the clock.
Inside the Numbers:
- Jowers paced the team in the offensive attack on Sunday, leading all players with five shots, while two were on goal.
- Anderson finished the day with four goals, while also clearing the box on multiple occasions after attempted crosses from the Stags' attack.
- The game featured six yellow cards, including two which were dealt to Tim Fafian in the 87th minute, which led to the Peacocks playing a man-down for the remainder of the contest.
- Fairfield controlled the ball throughout the game, recording 17 shots on the day compared to eight from Saint Peter's.
- The Stags also had twice the opportunities from the corner on Sunday, tallying eight corner kicks while the Peacocks were granted only four.
Coach's Quotes - Julian Richens:
- "It was a really tight competitive playoff game and one goal was always going to win it."
- "These lads have had a brutal schedule with this being the seventh game in 16 days. With injuries and squad size it is really hard to maintain any type of freshness going into any of these games. There were some players carrying injuries that probably wouldn't have been playing in a regular fall season. Credit to their competitive nature and desire to get to the conference playoffs for the third year in a row."
- "This really is a special group of seniors. Extremely talented on the field, very intelligent in the classroom, great characters and personalities, really tight close-knit group."
- "Very close to winning a conference championship, especially in 2019, but unfortunately wasn't to be. They leave an extremely positive legacy and environment for our returning players."
- "Some of them will be back taking their fifth year eligibility. For the players who are graduating and starting their post-Saint Peter's careers, it's not goodbye but see you soon."
- "Proud to have the opportunity to help them in their collegiate careers. Very proud to be their head coach. Thank you lads."
