FAIRFIELD, Conn – The second half seems to be the time that magic happens for the Fairfield University men's soccer team. For the second time in the last three games, the Stags scored all of their goals over the final 45 minutes but the effort fell short in a 3-2 setback against Stonehill College on Wednesday night.

Fairfield, which entered the week ranked among the top scoring teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), added two more goals to its season total to give the team seven in four matches. On this night, the Stags would not relent against the visiting Skyhawks with a few special moments that caused some stress on the opposing bench.

Stonehill jumped out to an early lead just two minutes into the contest when Nate Monteiro gained possession deep in the box after Tago Lima-Bittencourt sent the ball toward the near post. Montiero redirected the ball with his right foot and the ball bounced on the inside of the near post and crossed all the way across the goal line before caroming into the far side of the goal.

The Skyhawks doubled their advantage 12 minutes later on a brilliantly place shot from Colin Milliken, who collected a pass and tucked the ball just inside the near post. The two goal advantage followed Stonehill into the locker room, setting up another exciting half for the Stags.

Fairfield needed only 20 minutes of the second half to find its way back into the match when William Pierce caught the corner of the net from 20 yards away, converting a pass from Kaea Rangihaeata in the 59th minute, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Stonehill regained that two-goal advantage in the 79^th minute off a set piece as Milliken placed his corner kick to the far side of the box where Jared Rapoza collected the ball and sent a shot to the corner of the goal to make the score 3-1.

The Stags' resiliency showed through once again later in the half as Brett Sieg started a scoring opportunity by touching a pass to Asher Rosen who promptly put the ball into the back of the net before the Skyhawk defense could react in the 83^rd minute.

With seven minutes still on the clock, Fairfield continued to press by running down the flanks and sending crosses into the box. One of those crossed nearly created the tying goal when the ball found the foot of Pierce in the center of the box who volleyed a shot just over the cross bar to keep the one-goal lead in play.

Fairfield will begin a four-game road trip which covers the next three weeks, beginning with next Wednesday's match with LIU on September 11 beginning at 2 pm. The road trip continues with dates at the University of Vermont on September 14, Columbia University on September 18, and UConn on September 24.