Trojans escape Dutch in overtime

PELLA -- Pella has been a pebble in the shoe of Fairfield boys soccer team. Unable to defeat the Dutch since 2013, the Trojans removed the shoe and threw the pebble away Monday with a 2-1 overtime win at Pella in the first official match of the season.

“It was a well-deserved win,” Fairfield head coach Felisto Guezimane said. “The boys played very well. Pella is a great team.”

Having played the Dutch every year at least once, except for last year’s COVID-related cancelation, the eight straight losses provided the Trojans the motivation needed.

Fairfield’s Dagan Burnett accepted an assist from Xavier Kapijimpanga to take a 1-0 lead.

Pella tied the game a few minutes later and it went to halftime that way.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Pella came out pressing hard but Fairfield was “very well organized defensively,” Guezimane said.

Trojans goal keeper Kyle Schubick had some great saves to keep the game at 1-1. One of the saves was on the very last kick of the match.

Midway through the half, Fairfield turned it around and took the game to Pella.

“We had two clear chances to kill the game, but Pella’s goal keeper had a couple of great saves,” Guezimane said. “We carried that momentum into the overtime and Christin Bowman placed a wonderful through ball to Xavier, who went by his defender, around the keeper and slotted in the winning goal.”

Guezimane said it was a great team performance, but Schubick, Juan Rojo, Eli Moore, and Kapijimpanga stood out for the Trojans and newcomers Carter Moore on defense, Blake Jarmosco and Christian Bowman on the attacking midfield had good games.

“It felt great to leave Pella with a victory. I was very proud of the team.”