FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- The Fairfield University men's soccer team closes out its season-opening homestand by hosting Bryant University on Sunday night at Lessing Field. The game is slated for a 7 pm start. The match poses the second date on both team's schedule with the Stags falling to FDU and the Bulldogs edging Central Connecticut State University on Thursday night. During the month of August, admission is free for all fans! All games after August 31 will require a ticket for admission.

About Fairfield

• The Stags will play their second straight home match to start the 2023 campaign which marks the first time that the program opened the campaign with back-to-back matches at Lessing Field since the 2010 season. That year, Fairfield played its first seven matches of the schedule at home, finishing the run with a 1-2-4 mark. The Stags' seven-game homestand included Albany, Bradley, Yale, UMass, Boston College, Northeastern, and St. Francis College (N.Y.). 
• Joseph Stocchetti came off the bench on Thursday night and scored his first career goal in the 48th minute against FDU. The midfielder made a brilliant run down the spine of the pitch, setting up a 2-on-1 advantage with Raz Amir and an FDU defender. Amir slid the ball to Stocchetti on the fly and the senior redirected the pass into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1. His first collegiate point came in his freshman year, collecting an assist in the MAAC Championship semifinal match against Quinnipiac.
• Raz Amir's assist in the FDU game marked the seventh in his brief Fairfield career, transferring from Seton Hall to the program prior to the 2022 season. The midfielder, who earned Preseason All-MAAC honors, has now picked up at least one point in 11 of his 20 career games with the Stags. Last season, he led all scorers with 16 points (five goals, six assists) which he dispersed over 10 of his 19 appearances in 2022. His seven career assists are just four shy of cracking the top 10 on Fairfield's career assist leader list.
• Three Fairfield student-athletes earned their first career start in the FDU match, namely Cody Read, William Pierce, and Sam Danner. Both Read and Pierce are in the midst of their first season with the program while Danner made his fifth career appearance with Fairfield on Thursday night. Danner made the most of his inaugural nod when he posted three of the team's seven shots which were also the first of his Stags' career.

About Bryant

• The Bulldogs collected a one-goal victory in their season opener against Central Connecticut State University, gaining the advantage after Abdel Talabi's goal in the 55th minute. The senior converted a corner kick off the foot of Inigo Villaldea who sent the cross to the far post. Goalkeeper Antreas Hadjigavriel faced two shots in the match but did not have to make a save on either attempt. 
• Bryant had three student-athletes tie for the team lead in scoring with two goals each last year, but only one returns for the 2023 season. Luis Fernando Paul is back on the roster for the campaign, reaching the back of the net against Harvard and Binghamton. Goalkeeper Antreas Hadjigavriel came back this season after garnering two starts in 2023, posting a 2.00 goals against average after allowing four goals and a .800 save percentage off 16 saves.
• This game begins a four-game road swing for Bryant University, a trip which continues on August 31 at Merrimack College. The schedule also sends the Bulldogs to the College of the Holy Cross on September 5 and to Iona University on September 9. The team's next home game does not occur until September 12 when it hosts Stonehill College for a 7 pm match.

Up Next

• Fairfield takes its first road trip of the season following the Bryant match, heading to Brown University on September 4 at 7 pm followed by a September 9 match with Colgate University at 3 pm. The Stags' next home game is slated for September 13 when they welcome LIU to Lessing Field for a 7 pm contest.