FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The scoreboard might have read 2-0 in favor of the visiting team, but the 461 fans who showed up to Lessing Field saw the home team, comprised almost entirely of freshmen and bench players give an effort of a lifetime. Fairfield fell behind 2-0 in the first half but fought until the end, giving the Tigers everything they could handle.

“I'm just very proud of them,” Head Coach Jim O'Brien said. “How they stepped was really important for us to see. Before the game we told them, 'This is a great opportunity for you,' and they really took advantage.”

Fairfield (1-4) had eight freshmen in their starting lineup. Out of the 11 starters, only one player had started a game prior to this season (Molly Moran). This inexperience showed as Towson (2-2-1) was able to get on the board twice in the first half. Katie Fullerton got the ball at the top of the box when the goalkeeper and a defender collided, giving Fullerton a wide-open goal.

The Tigers would add on to their lead when a Fairfield defender was whistled for a foul inside the box, setting up a penalty shot for the visiting side. Preseason All-CAA selection Vasthy Delgado converted the opportunity, giving Towson a 2-0 advantage that they would take into the locker room.

Fairfield, who had just one shot in the first half showed some instant growth that could help them this season.

“It's a learning experience,” O'Brien said. “We challenged them to clean their act up defensively in the second half and it was a very good effort.”

It was not just the defense, but the offense came alive. The second half lineup (who combined to appear in 11 games last season) stepped up in the second half. Those Stags would tally 11 shot, including a span of attempting four-straight in a 20-minute interval. Fairfield was led by their defense, which took the momentum back from the Tigers and set up the offensive opportunities. The Stags ended the game by taking four of the final six shots over the last six minutes.

Jenny Jacobs led the Stags with three shots, two on goal while Maggie Walsh and Sarah Gerali chipping in two shots each. Jenna Pike made six saves, five coming in the second half. Towson's Taylor Sebolao was forced to make five saves, all coming in the final stanza.

“It just increases our overall depth,” O'Brien said. “Some players who played very little minutes had a chance to be able to play more tonight and that is going to help us in the long run. When we get to conference play, we've got a lot of options and we've got a lot of different scenarios that we could put together to construct a good team on the field.”

Fairfield will see how the gelling of the bench worked as they continue their home stand against Bryant on Sunday at 1pm.