ALBANY, N.Y. – Exuberance and excitement are traits that can help as well as hinder a team. For the Fairfield University men's soccer team, exhibiting those emotions against Albany is certainly understandable considering Thursday night's game represented the season opener. While the Stags had the better of it in the first half, the Great Danes rallied for the game's lone goal in the second half to come away with the win.

"I think we may have guilty of being a little too amped up," Head Coach Carl Rees said. "We had the better chances in the first half but did not take advantage those opportunities. The team waited a long time to play a game and I think they were excited from the start."

Fairfield used that emotion to create several chances in the opening minutes starting with Thomas Drilllien's shot in the third minute that required Albany goalkeeper Carlos Tofern to make a save. Riccardo Iafrate, who came to Fairfield from Albany as a graduate student, also found some free space that allowed him to send the ball toward goal but saw the attempt blocked cleanly by a Great Dane defender.

Play centered around midfield with occasional runs toward goal for the next 15 minutes before Fairfield found its focus and opened things up in the offensive third. Jonathan Filipe and Hugo Espuela Hurtado both were granted chances but saw those tries blocked as well. At the end of the half, Fairfield held a 4-1 lead in shots and controlled possession for a good part of the first 45 minutes.

Albany became to sway play their way from the onset of the second half. After Drillien registered a shot in the 49^th minute, the Great Danes began to pick up pace which led to six consecutive shots over the next 20-plus minutes. One of those attempts caromed off the post which the Stags defense was able to clear without further damage.

The home team had two goals disallowed  during that sequence as one shot was overturned for offsides and the other resulted after contact was made with the goalkeeper. Albany eventually found the back of the net off a cross from the far corner that was redirected to the foot of Haflidi Sigurdarson who volleyed a shot under the crossbar in the 62^nd minute.

Fairfield made a valiant effort to find the equalizer with the best opportunity coming in the 80^th minute. The Stags secured a free kick from about 25 yards from goal, giving an opportunity to Jonathan Filipe. The senior opted to take the shot directly off the set piece but the shot sailed over the cross bar.

"We knew that this would be a close game," Coach Rees said. "We competed  but I think we need to use our soccer IQ when finishing opportunities. But what we didn't execute tonight is fixable and we will prepare for two quality opponents at home."

Fairfield will return to campus for its next two games, hosting Yale University in the home opener on September 3 and Army West Point on September 7. Both matches will be played at Lessing Field and will start at 7 pm.