SFU has picked up back to back clean sheets for the first time this season, as the team looks to build confidence heading into a tough game away against the Western Washington
by Beau Chevalier
Image Credit: Austin Cozicar
BURNABY, BC — SFU displayed their clinical finishing ability in a match that saw the Clan dominate throughout the full 90 minutes, finishing with a 3-0 win Thursday night.
They looked to right the wrongs that plagued them in the two sides previous meeting that saw the Concordia win 3-2 in September. And they did so in spectacular fashion with a solid team performance that saw Matteo Polisi score a goal and pick up an assist, with other notable performances from Riley Pang, Pascal Schmidt, and Adam Jones.
“I was really proud of the way we played tonight,” said head coach Clint Schneider. “Concordia is the type of team that are going to dump and going to chase, credit to the guys, we dealt with it really well tonight.”
SFU piled the pressure on early, gaining four corners in the first ten minutes. Notable chances were had by Connor Glennon, who was challenged by the goalkeeper in the first minute, and Mamadi Camara who had his shot was saved by the Cavaliers goalkeeper.
A smart substitution by Schneider saw Matteo Polisi score minutes after coming onto the pitch after finishing a low shot on a corner from Kyle Jones, who claimed the assist in the 29th minute giving the Clan a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
SFU looked to add to their tally in the second half as another inswinging corner from Adam Jones saw Pang force a save from the Concordia goalkeeper. Schmidt was at hand to finish the rebound from close range doubling the Clan’s advantage to 2-0 in the 64th minute.
Simon Fraser scored their final goal three minutes later as Matteo Polisi worked the ball down the left wing, before putting in a left footed cross to find Pang in the centre who finished his shot past a helpless Cavaliers keeper bring the score to 3-0.
SFU came close to scoring a fourth when Marcello Polisi’s free kick from 25 yards cannoned off the crossbar and out for a goal kick in the 80th minute.
Although SFU put on a magnificent attacking display, the main takeaways for the Clan should be their superb defensive performance as Concordia didn’t manage one shot in the whole game.
“The team goal is to not concede at home, and the team take a lot of pride in that, that’s why I don’t like to make a lot of subs to the back four, I like to keep it consistent — I care about keeping clean sheets,” explained Schneider.
With the shutout, Goalkeeper Miguel Hof now moves into first place in the GNAC with four shutouts.
SATURDAY: SFU takes the short drive across the border to play Western Washington in one of their biggest tests of the season. The Vikings are on a nine game unbeaten streak, and are one place above SFU in the GNAC standings.
“We’re expecting a battle — it always is,” said Schneider. “Obviously there is more on the line this time, they are a good side with a good coach and very organized, but if we show up and we play the way we can play, I fancy us to take all three points.”
Game starts at 7pm in Bellingham.
CJSF Sports Report 