Stamford under-10 Gold played Fairfield Black to a 1-1 draw Sunday in a Southwest Connecticut Junior Soccer Association game at McKinley Elementary School in Fairfield.
The teams battled through a scoreless first half. Stamford defenders Luke Crowley, Luke Nascimento, Alexe Apostididis and goalkeeper Santiago Palaez played well to keep Fairfield off the board. Palaez saved several quality shots, including two free kicks.
Coach Simon Wilshaw's halftime motivational tactics worked wonders as Stamford came out energized in the second half. Stamford struck several quality shots, but couldn't dent the Fairfield net. Fairfield eventually took a 1-0 lead on an officials' decision that left Stamford parents frustrated. After Nathan Links stopped a penalty kick, officials allowed the Fairfield player to re-take it. This time he connected, and Stamford was forced to rally.
The Gold did, and tied it on A.J. Mora's blast. Throughout the rest of the final half, midfielders and forwards Mora, Cedric LaFleur, Alexis Garcia, Redwanur Rashid and Tyler McKenna attacked the Fairfield defense. The Gold could not push in the go-ahead goal, and the teams finished deadlocked.
Stamford plays its last regular season game at West Beach against Darien White at 1 p.m.
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