FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- While the result may not have gone Fairfield's way in last Wednesday's match with Marist, Head Coach Carl Rees still saw something positive. The dynamic created between freshman Joseph Lozowski, sophomore Santiago Gonzalez, and senior Diallo Simon-Ponte was evident enough that Rees decided to start all three in tonight's game against Monmouth University. And the trio rewarded their head coach by playing a large factor in the men's soccer team's 3-1 win over the Hawks at Lessing Field.

Gonzalez scored the final two Fairfield goals in the second half in his first start in a week or so, while Lozowski assisted on all three goals in his first-ever start. Simon-Ponte started the Stags night with a first-half goal in the 39th minute. With their effort, the Stags were able to pick up their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) win, a result which pushed the team back into the race for one of the six conference tournament spots.

"We dominated the second half of the Marist game with Diallo, Joey, and Santiago as three attacking players," Rees said. "They waited for their moment and proved themselves at Marist. So we trusted them again tonight and it worked out for us. Joey has really gained confidence since the start of the season, finding pockets of influence and open spacing. All three of those guys have good technique so they can combine to find a target."

First up in tonight's offensive showcase were Lozowski and Simon-Ponte, who worked some free play inside the box to score the team's first goal. Some workman-like technique by Daniel Raimondo deep in the right corner started things off, sending the ball into a more dangerous position just inside the box. Lozowski eventually ran down the ball, spinning and firing a pass to Simon-Ponte at the top of the box. The senior struck the ball cleanly and sent a shot that caromed off the upper post but ricocheted into the back of the net at the 38:35 mark.

The two teams played a clean first half that saw both teams offset one another by taking seven shots each, with Fairfield holding a slight edge in shots on goal at 3-2 over the first 45 minutes. After halftime, Fairfield turned up its aggressive play and created some disadvantages for the Monmouth defense. The Stags needed little time to take advantage as Santiago Gonzalez took to the air to redirect a cross from Lozowski with his head, sending the ball just inside the far post to double the lead in the 47th minute.

Monmouth did not have many chances in the second half, mounting just three shots over the final 45 minutes. But one of those attempts resulted in a goal when Liam McGregor one-timed a cross from Griffin Tomas past goalkeeper Gordon Botterill from point-blank range, cutting the lead to 2-1. Any momentum gained by the quick strike from Monmouth dissipated when Lozowski and Gonzalez worked more magic inside the box. With a defender descending on Lozowski, the freshman slid a diagonal pass that led Gonzalez perfectly, setting up the sophomore for an open shot from 10 yards away.

After playing four overtime games in their first four MAAC dates, Rees and his team were pleased with playing just 90 minutes tonight and with the three-goal performance, the second time in MAAC play that the Stags tallied three goals in a game.

"We are doing it as a collective and that's been our mantra," Rees said. "We knew we had strength in depth and guys have been patient waiting for their moments. And, we know it will be different guys contributing down the road. This is a determined group and we are doing it shoulder to shoulder and going forward together."

Next up for the Stags is a midweek game against Manhattan with a 7 pm start on Wednesday night. Fairfield will return to Lessing Field on Saturday, October 26 for a match with Siena College. Game time is also 7 pm.