FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It was a successful start to the Fairfield University men's soccer home schedule. The Stags scored a pair of first-half goals and added a third in the second half to push past Monmouth University by a 3-0 count at Lessing Field.

"I am very happy that we have opened up with two wins including one against a tough team on the road and another against a program like Monmouth which always provides challenges," Head Coach Krystian Witkowski said. "Tonight was a good team performance."

The game was never really in doubt from the outset as Fairfield needed just 18 minutes to put the first goal on the scoreboard. For the second time in as many games, freshman Sean Albritton registered what proved to be the game-winning goal when he beat the goalkeeper from about 30 yards away. He unleashed a shot that took everyone by surprise, finding the upper corner for a 1-0 lead.

The two teams appeared satisfied to enter the locker room with a 1-0 score but the Stags worked a little magic in the closing seconds. Cameron Gerber, who set up the first goal, sent Alex Vaz into some free space at the top of the box. Vaz carried the ball across the box and released a shot that caught the left side of the goal with just 16 seconds remaining in the half.

While Monmouth trailed by a pair of goals at intermission, the Hawks managed to outshoot the Stags by an 8-5 margin. Fairfield goalkeeper Evan Chomow kept the visitors honest though, making four saves through the opening 45 minutes.

He remained in sync during the second half as well, as he faced nine shots over the final 45 minutes but made three more saves to keep his clean sheet intact. One of those stops required an acrobatic save off a header from point-blank range, diving to get his arm on the ball to deflect away from danger.

Fairfield closed out the scoring in the 55^th minute as William Pierce was able to produce his first goal of the campaign when Gerber sent a cross from the left side of the pitch directly to the middle of the box. Pierce elevated above his defender and redirected the ball with a header that caught the far corner. Gerber became the first Stag to record three assist in a game since Joseph Lowzowski garnered three assists in a 3-1 win over Monmouth during the 2019 season.

"We had two freshmen score a goal again tonight and we also received strong performances from our returning players," Coach Witkowski said. "We need to continue creating chances as we have in our first two games especially with Brown coming here next week."

The Stags will welcome Brown University on Monday, September 1 at Lessing Field. Game time is slated for 7 pm.