KINGSTON, R.I. -- Fernando Robayo scored the first goal of the season just 94 seconds into the season and the goal ended up leading to a 1-1 draw in the Stags' season opener against the University of Rhode Island. 

"I'm really proud of the way the team competed," Head Coach Carl Rees said. "We played a tough opponent on the road that had some special players but we found a way to take the lead early and finished strong."

The Stags made good on their first scoring opportunity of the 2019 campaign when Robayo finished a play that started with a redirected ball that the junior gathered on the right side of the box and finished with a shot that was sent toward the left post. The goal was set up by passes from Cormac Pike and Daniel Raimondo. For Raimondo, the assist represent his first point as a Stag while Pike picked up his fourth career assist on the play.

Raimondo nearly had his first goal later in the half when he put a shot on target in the 13th minute, a shot that forced Stefan Schmidt to make his first save of the game. Rhode Island also had opportunities in the first half as the team put a shot on the goal in the 21st and 25th minutes which Gordon Botterill handled to keep the Stags in the lead. By the end of the first half, Fairfield left the pitch with a 1-0 edge despite the Rams holding a slight 7-6 advantage in shots.

Rhode Island would turn up the pressure in the second half, starting the period with four shots in the opening seven minutes of the half. It was the fourth shot that made the difference as Simon Uri Trcka secured a rebound off an initial shot by Stavros Uri Zarokostas. Botterill made the first save but could not corral the rebound which landed on the foot of Trcka. 

The Rams continued to apply pressure and ended the half by holding a 17-5 advantage in shots. Three of the Stags five shots came from Jonathan Filipe who had two of his attempts blocked by Rhode Island defenders. Still, the Stags defense kept the home team in check for the rest of the half which sent the game into extra time.

Rhode Island started the first overtime with a pair of shots, only one of which required a save from Botterill. The Stags had the best chance late in the 10-minute period, putting three shots on target in the final two minutes. Matt McGlinchey took a shot that was stopped by the URI goalkeeper, setting up a second shot by Filipe. His shot was turned away by a defender as the first overtime came to a close.

In the second overtime, Rhode Island was responsible for all three shots taken over the 10 minutes of extra play, two of which required saves from Botterill.

"Intensity has been the focus of our season," Rees said. "The embodiment of that tonight was Marcus Nordgard who showed that he is focused, driven, and tenacious throughout the game. We have work to do in the attacking third but the character of the group is quality. We earned a positive point on the road."

Fairfield will finish up its season-opening two-game road swing with a game at Saint Joseph's University on September 4. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm.