BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Fairfield University men's soccer team dropped its 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener with a 1-0 decision to Canisius College on Friday night. The loss dropped Fairfield to 1-4-5 overall.

The Stags outshot the Golden Griffs by an 18-14 count, and owned a two-to-one advantage in shots on goal. Fairfield forced goalkeeper Kareem Gray to make eight saves in the game, including five in the second half. Michael O'Keeffe tallied three saves for the Stags, yielding only one goal in the first half.

Canisius tallied what proved to the game winner just 16 minutes into the first half. Steve Mahon tallied his first goal of the season when he controlled a loose ball near the goal and pushed a shot into the right-hand corner, beating O'Keeffe who made the save on the Griffs' initial shot.

The Stags had two scoring chances in the final three minutes, the last coming when Adam Cowen took a shot with a minute remaining. But, Gray made the save each time to keep the shutout intact and to preserve the win.

Fairfield will continue its two-game road trip in upstate New York when it takes on Niagara University this Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1 pm.