FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's soccer team fought back to tie the match with two second half scores, but the NJIT Highlanders were able to head in a late goal off a set piece and eventually take the match by a 3-2 mark. Trailing 2-0 entering the second half, freshmen Liz Dumas and Shannon Ryan both secured their first collegiate goals to start the Fairfield rally.
 
Fairfield (2-4) fell behind just 70 seconds into the match when NJIT's (3-3) Christine Conaghy tapped a pass on the outside of the penalty box to Melanie Zrno, who was able to loft a shot over the Fairfield goalkeeper for the first score of the game. The Highlanders would net their second goal in the 26th minute when Jennifer Callaghan got through the Fairfield defense and finished her 1v1 opportunity.
 
Putting the pressure forward, the Stags were able to battle back by scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Dumas started the action when she found a deflected header come to her feet inside the box and she was able to push it by the keeper for her first career score. Ryan followed her in the 62nd minute when Jenn Wahlig sent a free kick into the box where Ryan pushed herself in front of the pile and was able to punch the ball in with a diving header.
 
The decisive goal also came on a set piece in the 80th minute when Emily Heckman sent in a ball into the box on a free kick that Noelle Batista headed past the keeper.
 
In net, Megan DeFeo made four saves, none better than a reflexed save off a point-blank shot by Carly Berdan, which at that time kept the score at 2-2.
 
On the other side of the field, NJIT goalkeeper Amelia Sapirman made three saves for the Highlanders.
 
The Stags out-shot the Highlanders 13-10, with Alex Madden leading all players with five attempts.
 
Fairfield will now turn their attention to the conference slate and play their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) match of the season when they travel to play Siena on Saturday at 1pm.