Emmitsburg, Md. (September 16, 2023)--Ammit Bhogal's late game heroics propelled Mount St. Mary's to a 2-1 victory over visiting Fairfield in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener on Saturday night before a lively crowd at Waldron Family Stadium. Bhogal's game-winning goal came with 48.5 seconds left, and just over a minute after Fairfield had tied the game in the 89th minute.
The Mountaineers (1-4-1, 1-0-0 MAAC) earned a free kick from the left side to set up the winning score.
Luc Holden sent the free kick to the goal and after Fairfeld keeper Victor Nikolov punched the ball, it went to
Junee Lee, who headed it back towards the goal. Bhogal was in the right spot, knocking home the game-winning goal with his right foot to give the Mount the lead.
Bhogal's goal came just 1:04 after Fairfield had stunned the Mount with a tying score with 1:52 left in the game. Fairfield's Tyler Reavis buried a shot to the lower left of the goal to beat Mount keeper
Ethan Russell to tie the game. Juan Pablo Leano started the play with a ball into the box to Thomas Drillen, who tapped a pass to Reavis for the tying goal.
Fairfield had a golden opportunity earlier in the half, earning a penalty kick in the 52nd minute when Leano was fouled in the box. It was Russell who came away with the stop, denying Leano on his penalty with a diving save to his right. After a wild scramble, Fairfield's Drillen had his shot go off the right post. Another scramble ensued with a final shot in the flurry going wide right. Russell then came up with a pair of stops in the 67th minute to keep the Mount in the lead.
The Mountaineers took the lead in the 19th minute on a terrific goal from Lee. Russell started that play with a long punt to the middle with Lee winning the header to
Erick Villatoro, who sent a pass to
Mackie Sacarellos. Sacarellos sent a long ball into the box where it was collected by Lee on a nice touch, and he deftly sent home the game's first goal with a right footed shot for his first collegiate goal.
Russell made seven saves for the Mount in the game as Fairfield held a 20-to-6 shot advantage, including an 8-to-4 edge in shots on goal. The Mount did hold the edge in corner kicks by a 7-4 margin.
UP NEXT: The Mountaineers stay at home to host Manhattan on Saturday, September 23, with a 7:00 p.m. kick-off at Waldron Family Stadium.
