LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University field hockey team did all it could against host Rider University by taking more shots and earning more penalty corners, but the Stags could only manage to push one attempt into the back of the goal. The result was a 3-1 win for Rider on its home pitch on Friday night.

Rider came out with aggressively and kept the ball under control on the Fairfield side of the pitch. The Broncs had the first two opportunities in the opening minutes, both coming off the penalty corners. On the second chance, the home team made an attempt at the goal and finished on the second chance to give Rider a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.

The lead was brief as the Stags found the equalizer just a few minutes later when Frances Mirabile collected her first goal at Fairfield in the 10^th minute that brought the score to 1-1. Fairfield continue to pressure the Rider defense and spent a good part of the first half in the offensive circle. The Stags would accumulate nine corners in the first half but Rider's back line would not yield any further goals.

The Broncs finally found their way out of danger and made a run up the pitch. As it had been in the first quarter, a scoring chance was taken when a penalty corner was awarded to Rider and the home team made the most of it. This time, Indy Zoontjens finished her shot for her sixth goal of the season just two minutes into the quarter. The goal stood through the next 13-plus minutes to send Rider into the intermission with a one-goal edge.

Fairfield had more success in the third quarter as the Stags were responsible for all three shots taken with two attempts on target. Page Lowry was responsible for all of Fairfield's third quarter attempts with her last two requiring a save from Rider goalkeeper Kaitlin Tomas in the final minute of the period.

The fourth quarter brought more action to Fairfield goalkeeper Payton Rahn as the home team finally was able to challenge the Stags defense. The Broncs took a pair of shots with both being on task. One of the shots was turned away with a save from Rahn while the other resulted in a goal by Semra Said. The forward found the ball at the top of the circle and released a back hand shot that was perfectly placed in the upper corner of the cage, giving Rider a 3-1 win.

Rahn faced eight shots in the game which ended with the sophomore making two saves for the Stags. Tomas saw 10 shots come her way and commanded five saves to keep her team in front.

Fairfield will now prepare for another Northeast Conference match when Merrimack College comes to University Field on Sunday afternoon. The Stags and the Warriors will face each another at 1 pm.