LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 12, 2007) – Freshman Patrick Fleming (Dunedin, New Zealand / Bayfield) knocked in a rebound for his second goal of the season to lead the Saint Francis men's soccer team to a 1-0 Northeast Conference victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday afternoon at the Stokes Soccer Complex.
Fleming's second goal of the season came at 72 minutes, 29 seconds to help the Red Flash improve to 3-0 in the NEC standings for the first time in program history. Saint Francis also improved to .500 on the year at 5-5-1 after a tough 1-4 start. The Red Flash will face another stiff NEC test in Sacred Heart beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, at the Stokes Soccer Complex.
Junior goalkeeper Brad Williams (San Lorenzo, CA/Arroyo) (San Lorenzo, Calif. / Arroyo) had several outstanding saves, and finished the match with six for his fifth shutout of the season.
Senior Jarron Brooks (Mitchellville, Md. / Archbishop Carroll) and sophomore Daniel Moir (Christchurch, New Zealand/Shirley Boys) (Christchurch, New Zealand / Shirley Boys) assisted on the game-winner. Brooks sent a perfect cross into the 18-yard box as Moir tried to one-time it into the net. Knight's goalkeeper Elvir Prasovic made a nice point-blank save, but his rebound came out to Fleming, who slammed it into the right side of the net to break the scoreless tie.
Fairleigh Dickinson registered five shots against just one in the first 45 minutes as Williams made four of his saves in the first half. The Knights' Samson Malijani had a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box and played a good ball on net, but Williams made a diving stop to his left to keep the match scoreless.
In the 60th minute, FDU's Vin Reinecke received a corner kick and targeted a header toward the top right corner, but Williams made a sensational, fully-extended diving stop to keep the match scoreless.
Fleming would give SFU the 1-0 edge about 12 minutes later, and the Red Flash controlled most of the action in the final half.
Williams now has 12 career shutouts, which are second most in program history and just three behind former teammate Bobby Pipech.
