Late 2nd-half goal leads to Fairfield Lions victory over Fayetteville
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — It was a winning night for the Fairfield Lions boys soccer team Monday evening, as they scored a late goal in the second half that broke a tie and eventually led to the 2-1 win over the visiting Fayetteville Rockets.
The Southern Hills Athletic Conference matching saw the score tied at 1-1 when halftime arrived. It was the second half which saw both teams battle tough, but it was the Lions who were able to break away from the Rockets and ignite themselves to the lead and the conference win.
The game-winning goal came with 3:19 on the clock as Jon Bentley broke away with teammate Reese Teeters and then beat the keeper of Fayetteville for the goal and the 2-1 advantage, as Teeters was credited with the assist.
“Jon Bentley with that goal … he was the motor of this team the whole game,” FHS head coach Jacob Alexander said. “No matter if I had him at defensive mid or forward, he was energetic and just wanted the ball. That’s what I’ve been preaching with this team … we are young, and we only have two seniors, so we are young, and you can tell we are young.
“Getting that energy going and getting positive things going, it really helps. From the first game until now, we have had Bentley be a late addition to the roster after playing last year. We can have players at different positions, and it allows better play of our team.”
Also late in the second half with around 2:30 left in the contest, he Fairfield defense held strong and Hunter Burns made a solid save to keep the Lions in the lead. Burns finished with eight saves against the Rockets.
“Hunter Burns came up huge there,” Alexander said of the goal. “He had a great game.”
As for the first half, the 40 minutes of action were just as close with Fayetteville leading by a 1-0 score as William Cornett placed the ball into the back of the net within the first 20 minutes of play. The Lions answered not too long later when Teeters scored Fairfield’s first goal of the match, tying the score at 1-1.
“We were down 1-0, and that goal gave us a lot of life, and after that we realized we could play with them at that point. We came out with great energy, but when Fayetteville scored that first goal we were knocked back on our heels, we kind of got stunned, but after Reese’s goal we were full steam ahead,” Alexander said. “I felt we controlled the second half. It got real tense there for a little while, but it was an exciting game, and I’m glad we cam out on the positive end of it.”
The Lions also held senior night, as Cody Ayers and Hunter McIntosh were honored after the match in a ceremony at FHS.
“Cody is a four-year player and is a solid center back. I can’t say enough good about him. He’s a great young man, first in his class and is a really good kid,” Alexander said. “Hunter played his freshman year, and came back this year and has been a welcome addition and has a leadership role on the team. He got his first goal this year too, so he’s been great.”
Next for the Lions is a home non-conference match on Thursday, Oct. 8 vs. Westfall.
“Thursday we are home against Westfall so we will try to bring this momentum, and that will lead us into tournament,” Alexander said.
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The Southern Hills Athletic Conference matching saw the score tied at 1-1 when halftime arrived. It was the second half which saw both teams battle tough, but it was the Lions who were able to break away from the Rockets and ignite themselves to the lead and the conference win.
The game-winning goal came with 3:19 on the clock as Jon Bentley broke away with teammate Reese Teeters and then beat the keeper of Fayetteville for the goal and the 2-1 advantage, as Teeters was credited with the assist.
“Jon Bentley with that goal … he was the motor of this team the whole game,” FHS head coach Jacob Alexander said. “No matter if I had him at defensive mid or forward, he was energetic and just wanted the ball. That’s what I’ve been preaching with this team … we are young, and we only have two seniors, so we are young, and you can tell we are young.
“Getting that energy going and getting positive things going, it really helps. From the first game until now, we have had Bentley be a late addition to the roster after playing last year. We can have players at different positions, and it allows better play of our team.”
Also late in the second half with around 2:30 left in the contest, he Fairfield defense held strong and Hunter Burns made a solid save to keep the Lions in the lead. Burns finished with eight saves against the Rockets.
“Hunter Burns came up huge there,” Alexander said of the goal. “He had a great game.”
As for the first half, the 40 minutes of action were just as close with Fayetteville leading by a 1-0 score as William Cornett placed the ball into the back of the net within the first 20 minutes of play. The Lions answered not too long later when Teeters scored Fairfield’s first goal of the match, tying the score at 1-1.
“We were down 1-0, and that goal gave us a lot of life, and after that we realized we could play with them at that point. We came out with great energy, but when Fayetteville scored that first goal we were knocked back on our heels, we kind of got stunned, but after Reese’s goal we were full steam ahead,” Alexander said. “I felt we controlled the second half. It got real tense there for a little while, but it was an exciting game, and I’m glad we cam out on the positive end of it.”
The Lions also held senior night, as Cody Ayers and Hunter McIntosh were honored after the match in a ceremony at FHS.
“Cody is a four-year player and is a solid center back. I can’t say enough good about him. He’s a great young man, first in his class and is a really good kid,” Alexander said. “Hunter played his freshman year, and came back this year and has been a welcome addition and has a leadership role on the team. He got his first goal this year too, so he’s been great.”
Next for the Lions is a home non-conference match on Thursday, Oct. 8 vs. Westfall.
“Thursday we are home against Westfall so we will try to bring this momentum, and that will lead us into tournament,” Alexander said.
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