Fairfield Lions squeak by McClain
Lead Summary
By
Jim Jones-
The Fairfield Lions and McClain Tigers were locked into a scoreless non-conference soccer battle on McClain field Thursday night until Fairfield senior Koben Zink found the back of the net for the winning goal with just 19:45 remaining in the second half.
It was a game that was extremely physical but highly competitive from start to finish, with both teams visibly exhausted when the final horn sounded.
McClain was down to their third goalkeeper in first-year senior Brandon King, who did an admirable job at the net, giving up just the one goal late in the second half.
Fairfield’s keeper Hunter Burns was just as impressive with the shutout, which included a block on a potential game-tying kick at the 25:00 mark of the second period.
“I’m really proud of my team tonight and how they battled in a physical but well-played game,” said Fairfield coach Jacob Alexander. “Hunter Burns back in goal saved us numerous times tonight, especially on that penalty kick, and then Koben Zink putting that goal away late in the second half.
“Coach (Nick) McNeal has done a good job of building a strong program at Greenfield with a foundation for the future there, and I feel we’re trying to do the same thing, just with a little different style at times.”
The McClain head coach, despite disappointed with the outcome, still had lots of positive things to say after the game.
“I thought that both teams played such a good game tonight. It was a great atmosphere in a game that was physical but clean with a lot of great play from both teams,” McNeal said. “Both teams put everything they had into this game, and you could see that it was obvious that both wanted to win tonight.
“Their keeper made a lot of key saves tonight on some of our shots that I really thought were going in. He definitely kept us from winning the game.”
Coach McNeal also spoke about how much his seven seniors have meant to his program.
“These seniors on this team have been great role models and leaders for our younger players,” McNeal said. “They have brought the kind of positive leadership and experience that is needed to help our younger kids prepare and learn for the future.”
Those seven seniors for McClain are led by four-year starter Jase Allison, along with a pair of three-year starters Memphis Beatty and Andrew Newland.
Cole Harget has been a two-year starter, and the other three — Luke Bliss, Christopher Starkey and Brandon King — are all first-year varsity players, although Bliss did play his freshman year before choosing to run cross-country over the past two seasons.
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It was a game that was extremely physical but highly competitive from start to finish, with both teams visibly exhausted when the final horn sounded.
McClain was down to their third goalkeeper in first-year senior Brandon King, who did an admirable job at the net, giving up just the one goal late in the second half.
Fairfield’s keeper Hunter Burns was just as impressive with the shutout, which included a block on a potential game-tying kick at the 25:00 mark of the second period.
“I’m really proud of my team tonight and how they battled in a physical but well-played game,” said Fairfield coach Jacob Alexander. “Hunter Burns back in goal saved us numerous times tonight, especially on that penalty kick, and then Koben Zink putting that goal away late in the second half.
“Coach (Nick) McNeal has done a good job of building a strong program at Greenfield with a foundation for the future there, and I feel we’re trying to do the same thing, just with a little different style at times.”
The McClain head coach, despite disappointed with the outcome, still had lots of positive things to say after the game.
“I thought that both teams played such a good game tonight. It was a great atmosphere in a game that was physical but clean with a lot of great play from both teams,” McNeal said. “Both teams put everything they had into this game, and you could see that it was obvious that both wanted to win tonight.
“Their keeper made a lot of key saves tonight on some of our shots that I really thought were going in. He definitely kept us from winning the game.”
Coach McNeal also spoke about how much his seven seniors have meant to his program.
“These seniors on this team have been great role models and leaders for our younger players,” McNeal said. “They have brought the kind of positive leadership and experience that is needed to help our younger kids prepare and learn for the future.”
Those seven seniors for McClain are led by four-year starter Jase Allison, along with a pair of three-year starters Memphis Beatty and Andrew Newland.
Cole Harget has been a two-year starter, and the other three — Luke Bliss, Christopher Starkey and Brandon King — are all first-year varsity players, although Bliss did play his freshman year before choosing to run cross-country over the past two seasons.
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