Oct. 28, 2007

Final Stats

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -After missing a chance to knock off Iona at home on Friday night, the Marist men's soccer team needed a win on Sunday, and they got it. The Red Foxes scored four first half goals on route to knocking off defending MAAC Champion Fairfield, 4-0 at Tenney Stadium.

From the opening whistle the Red Foxes played with urgency and intensity. They won loose balls and forced the action throughout the match. In the fifteenth minute, freshman Joe Touloumis (Cranford, N.J.) took a beautiful pass from Mike McGowan (Oxford, Conn.) and put it in for a score. It was the second goal of the season for Touloumis.

Eight minutes later, senior tri-captain Shareif Ali (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) scored on a Penalty Kick for a 2-0 Marist lead. It was the fourth score of the year for Ali.

Even with the 2-0 lead the Marist attack never ceased. Head Coach Matt Viggiano was extremely pleased with his team's effort following the match. "We came out and put it all together today. We've been building to this point, and today we played our best game at the time we needed it most."

Marist (6-6-3, 3-2-2 MAAC) had a 9-3 shot advantage going into halftime and ended with a 13-11 advantage.

Goals three and four came from Mike McGowan to make the score 3-0. He was able to put it in again after Ali threaded the needle in the box for the score.

Daniel Owens (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) got the win in net for Marist. The junior keeper made four saves on the way to the shut-out.

The win solidified the Red Foxes hold on sixth place in the conference. They will go on the road for matches versus St. Peter's and Manhattan next weekend.

"We put the puzzle together today and got the big win we needed. We now have a nice little unbeaten streak (3), and have tightened up these standings. Now we just have to go on the road, take care of our business and see how things play out," Viggiano added after the match.