LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University women's soccer team dropped their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) match of the season, falling 4-1 at Rider. Junior Sara Plowman set a new career-high with her third goal of the season in the loss, tying for the team lead in that category.
 
Fairfield (4-5, 2-1 MAAC) fell behind in the 14th minute when Michelle Iacono scored the first of her two goals of the match to give Rider (2-7-0, 2-1 MAAC) a 1-0 lead. After the Broncs increased their advantage by scoring another goal, Plowman and the Stags cut the lead in half when the junior lofted a pass from classmate Jenny Jacobs past the keeper to put the score at 2-1. Jacobs played a perfect pass over the head of the defender where Plowman was able to one-time the ball into the net.
 
It looked like the Stags had the equalizer in the second half when Alex Madden set up a counter attack. The freshman used her speed to run by the defense and found Liz Dumas on the side of the box who beat the goalkeeper to the left corner. However, the Stags were called for offsides, negating the score.
 
Madden also had an opportunity in the 56th minute when she ripped a shot from the top of the box but Rider's goalkeeper Carmen Carbonell was able to leap and hit the ball over the crossbar.
 
Those plays proved to be turning points as Rider would add goals in the 73rd and 89th minutes to complete their scoring.
 
The Stags out-shot the Broncs by a 15-14 edge, however nine of the attempts from Rider were on target compared to four for Fairfield.
 
Fairfield will return to Lessing Field on Wednesday night when they host in-state rival Quinnipiac at 7pm.