BEAVERCREEK - Last night the Fairmont Men's Soccer team were on the prowl for their second GWOC win of the season and earned a hard-fought, comprehensive, away victory at the expense of the Beavercreek High School Beavers. It was the first Fairmont victory over Beavercreek since 2009!

Throughout the season, the team has consistently produced early chances and last night was true to form. In the fourth minute, Gavin Weaver served the ball into the box to Bien Niyonkuru whose header missed just wide of the right post. Three minutes later, Bien put the Birds up 1-0 with his right- footed shot beating the keeper courtesy of an assist from Grey Danner. The Birds absorbed pressure from the hosts and were very disciplined in moving the ball quickly from their backline and into the attack. Against the run of play, the Beavers found an equalizer in the fourteenth minute with a shot that beat Gavin Fourman at his near post. Fairmont nearly had its go-head goal in the twentieth minute, but Danner’s header was saved at the near post following a long throw-in from Luke Davidson. Four minutes later, the duo would restore the Birds’ lead with Danner’s header looping over the keeper and in at the far post. The teams had few clear chances over the next ten minutes of play until Nassim Hennaoui found a bit of space to send a low, long-range shot towards goal. Beavercreek’s keeper bungled his save and could not prevent Nate Bittner from slotting home from close range. The Birds went into halftime with a comfortable 3-1 lead.

Fairmont hunted for another goal from the blare of the second-half whistle, and the boys’ high-press
reaped rewards eight minutes into the half. The Beavers turned over the ball in their defensive third to
Torin Brock, who found Freddy Irakoze curling his shot inside the right post. Four minutes later, Bien
played Irakoze through, but his shot was just wide right. In the dying minutes of the match, Danner
nearly had a double, but his near-post shot was saved, and Hennaoui had a burner scoot just past the
left post.

From back to front, Fairmont defended well and its high energy and discipline on defense
stifled any chance for a Beavercreek comeback. At the final whistle, the Birds savored their 4-1 victory.
The victory elevated Fairmont’s record to 6-2-1, and the Birds look to build upon their two-game
winning streak this Saturday, September 20th at Fairmont Park Stadium where they take on Cincinnati
Elder High School. The Reserve team kicks off at 3:00 p.m., JV kickoff is at 5:00 p.m., and Varsity kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.