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After a scoreless first 100 minutes of regulation and two overtime periods, the Cardinals fell in the penalty kick round, 7-5.
“It’s the cruelest game in the world,” Greenwich head coach Kurt Putnam said. “You have to take your chances and we had enough chances to win that game two times over.”
The Jesuits had more than a little luck on their side, as Greenwich clanged five shots off the post or the crossbar in the match.
It seemed the Cardinals would deal the deciding blow in the first overtime when a rebound off the post ended up right at the feet of Diego Guitierrez with nothing but open net in front of him. But Guitierrez pushed the shot just to the right of the net, preserving the scoreless tie.
Greenwich amassed a whopping 17 shots on goal in regulation and the two overtime periods, but Fairfield Prep goalkeeper Will Steiner stopped each one. Steiner also came up with three crucial saves in the penalty kick period.
The Cardinals dominated time of possession in the game, taking pressure off their back-up goalie, Guy-Rene Gerin. Starting keeper Emmett Clarke left for good just five minutes into the contest after a scary collision with a Fairfield Prep player sent him to the hospital for precautionary measures.
Putnam then replaced Gerin with Santiago Irigoyen for the penalty kick period. Iriogyen came up with a pair of saves, but Fairfield Prep came away with the win.
“There’s not a lot you can say to the guys,” Putnam said. “It’s just unfortunate that the best team on the night didn’t win.”
Greenwich finished its 2012 season with a 15-3-2 record.
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