FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's soccer team will open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Monday afternoon when it hosts Niagara University. The game is scheduled for a 2 pm start at Lessing Field.

The Stags will play the middle game of their three-game home stand, opening with a 1-1 draw with Columbia University. Fairfield will also play its fourth home game of the young season, sporting a 1-1-1 record so far on its home pitch.

Last week, Head Coach Krystian Witkowski saw his squad take a 1-0 lead against Columbia with a goal in the 22^nd minute off the foot of freshman Alex Vaz. The freshman took over the team lead in scoring with the goal, sporting three through his first five appearances with the program. It appeared that the Stags would make that goal stand until the 75^th minute when Columbia was awarded a penalty kick which was converted into the tying goal.

Goalkeeper Evan Chomow faced 11 shots in the Columbia game with two of those attempts being on target. He made a save on the first attempt before yielding the penalty kick goal. The freshman has 17 saves on the season which translates into an impressive .773 save percentage. He has surrendered just five goals which keeps his goals against average at 1.00. He places fourth in save percentage and third in goals against average among the MAAC goalkeepers.

Vaz is also among the conference leaders in a few categories, namely goals (third with 3), points (fifth with 1.20 per game), and shots (fifth with 12).

Niagara brings a 2-2 overall record into Monday's game which includes a 4-3 win over Robert Morris in its last outing on September 7. Four different Purple Eagles scored in the game including three in the first half. Juan Cardona scored the team's first goal and later picked up an assist.

Cardona is also the team's top overall scorer with five points, adding a goal against St. Bonaventure in the season opener to his total. Langer Hungerford, who also posted a goal in the Robert Morris win, places second among his teammates with a goal and a team-high two assists for four points.

Goalkeeper Grant Wyles has represented the Purple Eagles in three of their four matches, owning a 2.67 goals against average with 10 saves and a .556 save percentage. Julien Casimir picked up ninety minutes against Navy, making six saves and allowing two goals in his appearance.

Following the Niagara game, Fairfield will host defending national champion University of Vermont on Saturday, September 20. The men's team will welcome the Catamounts for a 6 pm game at Lessing Field. Vermont enters this week with a 4-0-3 overall record.