FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer put together a strong effort against Yale University in the Stags' home opener Friday night, twice coming from a goal down only to come up short at the end by a 3-2 count. The visiting team received votes in the national poll and played for the first time since the end of the 2019 season.

Both teams flexed superiority at different times in the match with Yale putting together a better offensive showing early before the Stags managed to gain their own momentum as play continued throughout the first half. By the end of the first 45 minutes, Fairfield may have had a 5-4 edge in the shots column but the two teams had gained no advantage as the squads went into the locker room tied at 1-1.

Yale netted the first goal of the game when Eric Lagos made sense of a melee in front of the goalkeeper, finishing a chance that started on a ball served by Sigfus Arnason in the 12th minute of play. The ball saw no one take full control until Lagos made his effort that resulted in a shot that beat the goalkeeper to the lower half of the goal.

The Stags tallied the first of their two tying goals in the match as Rasmus Sorensen Rejnhold netted his first goal as a member of the Fairfield program, creating the chance after Jonathan Filipe made a brilliant entry pass that the freshman was able to redirect into the back of the net in the  19^th minute of play. Both teams were still able to find openings over the final 27 minutes but most of the attempts sailed high or wide of the target.

Lagos regained the lead for the Bulldogs when he made good on a ball sent into the box by TJ Presthus in the 59^th minute, sending a shot past a diving William Marment that gave Yale its second lead of the game. Lagos made a bid for the hat trick a few minutes later but his choice to the lower corner was saved by Marment which kept the game at one goal.

That stop was key because it returned momentum to the Stags who appeared to be on their heels during those few minutes. Jonathan Filipe tied the game in the 71^st minutes on a situation he created with smart play that split a pair of Yale defenders inside the box. His run to goal was prevented when he was pulled down, giving a penalty kick opportunity to his teammates. Filipe drilled a shot inside the left post that tied the game at 2-2.

With the possibility of overtime looming, Yale took its third lead of the game with under nine minutes left in regulation. Kahveh Zahiroleslam sent his team to victory with the Bulldogs third goal of the game, securing a pass from Paolo Carroll and beating the goalkeeper to far corner.

"That's team that received votes in the poll and we went tooth and nail with them," Head Coach Carl Rees said. "We came from behind twice and I thought we dominated possession at points during the game. Overall, I am proud of the performance but disappointed that the guys did not get something out of the game."

Fairfield will play its second straight home game on Tuesday, September 7 when it hosts Army West Point at Lessing Field. Game time is set for 7 pm.