FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's soccer team will play its first home game of the 2011 season when it hosts Columbia University in a non-conference match up Friday night at 7 pm. The game will be played at Lessing Field on the Fairfield University campus. The contest represents Fairfield's only home game during the month of September.

The Stags, who lost in the closing minutes to 25th-ranked Boston College in the season opener, look to even up their record on Friday night. The team has the nucleus returning from last year's team that went 4-3-4 at home.

Jon Clements, Dan Shaw, and Nuno Rodrigues were the team's top scorers a year ago, but did not find the back of the net in the season opener. All three student-athletes tallied seven points a year ago with Clements and Rodrigues hitting the mark with three goals and an assist. Shaw was the team's leader with three assists, complimenting his two goals.

Goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe had an impressive debut against Boston College last Monday, making one save in the effort. He was primarily responsible for the Stags being the top defense in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) a year ago, as the Stags allowed just 1.01 goals per game. He posted 82 saves last season for a .812 save percentage en route to another All-MAAC berth.

Columbia makes its season debut on Friday night, part of a two-game run against Connecticut schools. The Lions will host Sacred Heart University on Sunday afternoon.

The team posted a 6-8-3 overall record in 2010, and sported a 2-3-2 mark in Ivy League play. Henning Sauerbier led all Lion scorers a year ago with 10 points, registering four goals and two assists in 17 games. He will return for the 2011 season at the midfield position.

Alexander Aurrichio will be back in the Columbia goal this year after posting an impressive 1.32 goals against average. He allowed 22 goals in 17 games and tallied 54 saves for a .712 save percentage.

After the September 2 game, the Stags will head to the Mayor's Cup Tournament in Onenota, N.Y. where they will play host Hartwick College on September 9 and Robert Morris on September 11.