FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer team brought life to Lessing Field with a dynamic second half but the Stags rally fell short as Harvard University came away with a 4-2 win. The Crimson scored three goals in the first half but the Stags answered with two quick goals in the second half before the visitors secured their final goal.

The first 25 minutes of the match were evenly matched as neither team managed a shot against the opposing goalkeeper. Harvard began to find some open space soon after though and created an offensive spark that led to three goals in an eight-minute span.

Ale Guitierrez put the first goal on the board after Willem Ebbinge and Allesandro Arlotti set him up with two short, quick passes that found Guitierrez making a move toward the net. Ebbinge and Arlotti would be instrumental in all  three goals as the duo also assisted on the second and third goals of the half.

In the 30^th minute, Sam Bjarnason would make a run toward the goal and timed another pair of passes from Ebbinge and Arlotti to push the ball past the charging Fairfield goalkeeper to bring the score to 2-0. Harvard closed out the first half scoring when Dylan Telado finished off a scoring chance in the 36^th minute¸ sending the Crimson into the locker room with the 3-0 lead.

The Stags were unfazed by the deficit and soon made their own mark on the match. Four minutes into the second half, Asher Rosen made a run down the right flank and sent a cross to the middle of the box where William Pierce waited. The sophomore collected the ball and sent a shot toward the right side of the goal to bring the Stags with a pair of goals.

Pierce would earn his second goal of the match in the 65^th minute when a handball call presented Fairfield with a penalty kick opportunity. Pierce stood over the mark and tucked the ball just under the crossbar to make the score 3-2.

Fairfield nearly tied the game just two minutes later when Kaea Rangihaeata broke free inside the box and curled a shot toward the far corner. Harvard goalkeeper Lucian Wood dove to his left and was able to secure the ball before it caused any more danger.

Harvard countered on the next possession and regained a two-goal advantage after Dylan Tellado chipped a shot into the upper corner with 24 minutes left in the game.

Fairfield goalkeeper Victor Nikolov and Wood each made three saves in the match.

"They have some special players with very good individual skills and we had trouble when they got isolated," Head Coach Carl Rees said. "We changed our shape and that helped us. I am really proud of the guys for coming back with the spirit and the fight."

Fairfield will return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Saturday when the team travels to Rider University for a 7 pm match.