Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Nick Sifrin (Schlangen, Germany/Gymnasium Paderborn) scored with 11 seconds left in the first half to propel Saint Peter's past Canisius 1-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's soccer action on Saturday.
Luke Fairlamb (Northampton, England/Unity College) took a shot from outside the box and the Golden Griffins (6-6-2, 2-3-1 MAAC) goalkeeper Ryan Arvin was able to knock the shot away, but right to the feet of Sifrin. The freshman then knocked in the rebound into the netting for his second tally of the season to lift the Peacocks (3-7-4, 1-3-2 MAAC) to their first league win of the season.
David Giddings (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) made three saves and earned his first shutout in a Saint Peter's uniform in the winning effort. Arvin turned away three shots for the Canisius in the loss.
Chicago may be nicknamed the "Windy City," but on Saturday afternoon Jersey City and Jaroschak Field borrowed the term for the match. With winds scheduled for up to 18 miles per hour going from left to right, the Peacocks had the wind advantage in the first half and came up with a Sifrin tally and then withstood the elements and the Golden Griffins in the second half to pick up the victory.
Saint Peter's came into the contest with 10 goals on the year and had found the twine only twice in the first half. The squad had held the lead for little over one half for the first 13 games. That all changed on Saturday when Sifrin booted in his second tally of the season and his second goal at home with 11 seconds left in the first half off a rebounded shot from Fairlamb. It was Fairlamb's third helper of the year to rank second on the team behind Marcel Maddee' (Berlin, Germany/Gymnasium Villa Elisabeth). The team then held onto the lead for the entire second stanza to pick up the victory.
When the Peacocks had the wind, they outshot the Golden Griffins 7-3. In the second half, Canisius had the weather-element advantage and held an 8-1 shots margin.
After Sifrin gave Saint Peter's the lead, the Golden Griffins registered five of its eight shots in the second half on goal. Giddings turned away a shot by Chris Berardi in the 51st minute. Asani Samuels nicked the far post in the 57th minute and Francesco Strangio had his shot blocked by the Peacocks defense in the 58th minute. Denver Spearman had his shot knocked away by the Saint Peter's defense in the 62nd minute and Giddings saved a chance by Nicol Baudio in the 70th minute.
The Peacocks return to action at home against Iona on Wednesday. Match time is 3 p.m.
