Fairfield soccer players and coaches watch former teammate play against Iran in World Cup

As U.S. soccer fans celebrated a big win over Iran Tuesday, Fairfield University soccer celebrated one of their own heading to the World Cup's round of 16.

News 12 Staff

Nov 29, 2022, 10:24 PM

Updated 757 days ago

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As U.S. soccer fans celebrated a big win over Iran Tuesday, Fairfield University soccer celebrated one of their own heading to the World Cup's round of 16.
USA starting goalkeeper Matt Turner graduated from Fairfield in 2017. Fairfield University's Lessing Field is where Turner built his college soccer chops before going on to turn heads in Major League Soccer, the English Premiere League and finally the World Cup.
Current Stags coaches and teammates gathered on campus to watch the U.S. play Iran Tuesday afternoon.
Turner made several key saves on the way to a 1-0 victory.
Turner went from walk-on to starting keeper for the New England Revolution before heading to England to play for Arsenal in the Premiere league.
Assistant coach Jonathan Raj, who played soccer for Fairfield as a senior when Turner was a freshman, says it's important for his players to see alumni achieving at such a high level.
"When our kids, our 26 kids in the locker room, sit down in that locker room that Matt once sat in, it's like, 'I can do this too, and whatever my dreams are, I can achieve it with the people around me, with the hard work and all the X's and O's that comes with it as well.' So, it's kind of inspirational for them, and also those who have walked in between Matt and the classes we have now," said Raj.