HAMDEN, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer team dropped its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) road match of the season, falling to Quinnipiac University by a 3-2 score. The Stags battled back on two different occasions but could not find an answer after the Bobcats scored their third goal.

Quinnipiac took the lead just 20 minutes into the game when Domen Bozic found himself free deep inside Fairfield's defensive third and sent a shot past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 Bobcat lead. The Stags managed to tie the game in the 33^rd minute when Thomas Drillien managed to collect a loose ball after a cross to the center of the box. The junior controlled the ball long enough to put the ball on target and past the goalkeeper to bring the score to 1-1.

Both teams had opportunities at the start of the second half but both goalkeepers were able to keep the score even until the 59^th minute. At that moment, Quinnipiac regained the lead off a set piece where the ball was sent from the extreme left side of the pitch into the box where the ball was deflected into the far corner which gave the home team a 2-1 edge. Alex Smith set up the goal with the long pass to the center of the box where Alexander Stjernegaard finished the play.

The Stags used some brilliance to draw even for the second time as Raz Amir and Lenni Mierow combined to set up a play that provided the ball into the center of the box where Alex Oliveira managed to volley a shot to the far post that brought the score to 2-2 with 23:01 remaining in the match.

The game was decided in the 72^nd minute when Jason Budhai finished a goal scoring chance that was created by a through ball from Stjerngaard, The pass put Budhai into open space that left him against the goalkeeper and the forward pushed the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper to make the score 3-2.

Fairfield continued to mount pressure on Quinnipiac after the third goal, earning three corner kicks over that final 20 minutes of play. But none of the insertions led to any shots resulting the Stags coming up a goal short.

The Stags took seven shots in the match with seven being on target while Quinnipiac managed eight shots with six being on goal. Fairfield goalkeeper James Anderson made three saves while Quinnipiac goalkeeper Karl Netzell also made three stops.

Fairfield returns to the pitch on Wednesday, October 5 when it travels to Manhattan College for a 6 pm match. The Stags play their next home game on Saturday, October 8 when they host Rider University at Lessing Field for a 7 pm start.