WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – A pair of first-half goals by the Fairfield University men's soccer team did not hold up in the second half as Monmouth University scored twice in the second half to post a 3-2 come-from-behind win on Wednesday night. The game-winning goal came with just 13 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Hawks were first on the scoreboard with a goal just four minutes into the contest. Robin Oswald finished a scoring chance set up by Ben Zakowski to the lower corner of the net to put the home team in front. The assist was the first of four points tallied by Zakowski, more than doubling his season total of three points coming into the game.

The Stags took control of the match from that point, moving forward and setting up several shots over the next several minutes. Fairfield tied the game in the 19^th minute when a trio of Stags combined for the team's first goal. Hugo Espuela Hurtado and Cormac Pike worked some magic inside the box, creating an opportunity for Thomas Drillien, who ended the play with a header that sent the ball just inside the near post.

Fairfield took the lead in the 29^th minute with a smart play by Jonathan Filipe. The senior took control of the ball at the corner of the box, cut inside toward the center before releasing a shot that curved back toward the far post and went to the back of the net without a challenge. The Fairfield lead would carry into overtime as the Stags doubled up their host by a 6-3 count in the shots column.

Monmouth came out in the second half and started to push forward with urgency from the start. In the 54^th minute, Zakowski set up the game-tying goal with a crisp cross from the left corner of the box to the far post where Liam McGregor waited patiently for the ball to arrive. When it did, he rose above and put his head on the ball and redirected it inside the near post to make the score 2-2.

The game's final goal came as both teams seemed to be settling in for overtime. Fairfield had the better of chances through the final eight minutes, including a shot by Drillien that was a half-volley that was sent to the lower corner. Goalkeeper Sean Murray made a diving save to send the ball over the end line and kept the game tied.

The Stags were still making moves in their offensive third late in the game which allowed one more push by Monmouth as regulation was coming to an end. The ball ended up with Zakowski about 20 yards from goal. The junior used a quick strike that fully extended goalkeeper William Marment but the ball managed to skip by him and just catch the corner of the net with 13 seconds remaining.

Fairfield tried to move forward as quickly as the collective could but there just wasn't enough time to mount any serious attack.

The Stags will finish their two-game conference road swing on Saturday when they head to Siena College for a 3 pm match. Fairfield will come back to campus for a pair of games next week, beginning with an October 13 match with Manhattan at Lessing Field.