LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University field hockey came up a goal short in its Northeast Conference (NEC) opener, dropping a 1-0 decision to Rider University on the road.

The Broncs received all it would it need to carry off the victory in the first quarter when they converted an early penalty corner into the game's only goal. With four minutes remaining in the opening period, Rider's Anna Finn set up teammate Katie Wuerstle who finished the scoring play.

Fairfield had plenty of opportunities to get the equalizer over the final three quarters, outshooting the home team by a 12-4 count during that 45 minutes. More impressively, eight of those 12 shots were on target but Rider goalkeeper Jade Regnart turned away each of those attempts.

The Stags were most active in the third quarter during which they accumulated eight shots. In a two-minute span during the that quarter, Fairfield earned four penalty corners which resulted in four shots that were all saved by Regnart. After the sequence, the Stags were credited with a penalty stroke with 10:38 on the clock. But once again, the Rider goalkeeper was up to the task and made the stop to her left side.

Both teams had limited opportunities in the fourth quarter with each team creating a pair of shots. Rider put pressure inside the circle midway through the period with a cross to center circle that resulted a shot toward the left corner. Fairfield goalkeeper Emily Streib kicked the ball away and the back line cleared the shot away from danger.

Fairfield nearly tied the game in the closing seconds with a scramble in the center of the circle resulted in the ball landing onto the stick of Madison Milhous. The senior flicked a shot over the goalkeeper but the ball sailed wide of the far post, ending the Stags' final scoring chance.

The stat sheet shows that Fairfield had a distinct advantage in most offensive categories, holding a 14-6 edge in shots. The Stags doubled up the Broncs in shots on goal by an 8-4 count and nearly had the same margin in penalty corners with an 11-6 advantage.

The Stags will return to the pitch for a non-conference home game on Sunday afternoon when they host the University of Maine. The match takes place at University Field beginning at 12 pm. The game starts a three-game home stand that includes NEC opponents Wagner College on October 4 and Mercyhurst College on October 6.