Fairfield boys soccer breaks through late

FAIRFIELD — It took a while, but the Fairfield boys soccer team was finally able to see the goals start flowing in their Southeast Conference showdown with Keokuk on Thursday night.

A frustrating game offensively ended in three late goals for a 4-0 victory over the Chiefs. The Trojan girls weren’t as fortunate, losing 7-1.

Fairfield peppered the Keokuk keeper with shots in the first half, but the Trojans only slipped one goal through. Kohen Cass scored what would be the lone goal for most of the game with 24:39 showing on the first half clock.

“I just saw the pass coming in hot and gave a touch,” Cass said. “I was there, and I just tapped it in.”

It took more than a full half of play for the Trojans to score again. Despite dominating time of possession, Fairfield didn’t put another into the net until Andrew Titze scored off a Penalty Kick with 12:15 left in the game.

“Once we scored the second goal, I think the players relaxed a little bit,” said Fairfield head coach Felisto Guezimane. “And then we went for it.”

The floodgates opened after that. Kass sent in the dagger to make it 3-0 with 7:13 remaining, and Everett Elliason scored less than one minute later.

The Trojans ended the game with 19 shots on goal. Keeper Mikael Anderson faced just one, which he saved.

The Fairfield girls had trouble with a speedy Keokuk team, namely senior Brianna Maerz who put up all seven of the Chiefs goals. Maerz torched the Trojan girls with one-on-one rushes.

Maerz and the Chiefs took a 2-0 lead into the half. Savannah Hollander scored the lone Fairfield goal, curving one in past the left post early in the second half, but Keokuk put up five more after that.

Trojan girls’ coach Alex Cardenas says despite the loss, he saw some promise.

“It's a work in progress, but we are getting there,” Cardenas said. “A couple of games ago, they probably would have had 10 on us.”

The Fairfield boys are now 2-4 overall and 2-3 in SEC play. The girls are 0-6 and 0-4. Both teams play Fort Madison on Monday with the boys traveling and the girls playing at home.