NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Fairfield University men's soccer dropped its Metro Conference semifinal match to Merrimack College on Wednesday night by a 1-0 score. The setback put the Stags overall record to 10-4-3 which included an 8-2 conference mark.

Fairfield controlled the flow of play for most of the first half, especially in the middle third of the 45 minutes period. Sophomore Cristian Ortiz started the flurry of activity in the 27^th minute with the game's first shot which was deflected away by a defender.

The Stags earned their first corner kick which set up a shot from Sean Albritton that forced goalkeeper Matteo Malaguti into action. The ensuing corner kick produced Fairfield's third shot in just over a minute, but the attempt sailed wide.

The visitors created more opportunities in the 31^st minute when a corner kick sent the ball to Illia Tyrkus who sent a shot toward goal that was saved by the keeper. The rebound caromed to Cameron Gerber who pushed the ball back toward goal but was wide of the mark.

After Gerber's shot, Merrimack placed a couple of substitutions into the game, one of which was Akaki Gvineria. His entry proved critical to the Merrimack cause Gvineria finished a pass from Riccardo Oddi just three minutes after his entry into the match.

The Stags continued to apply pressure in the offensive third with shots from Gerber and Cristiano Carlos but once again Malaguti was equal to the task and stopped both attempts. Fairfield would have one more shot in the 42^nd minute, the team's 10^th shot of the half, but it was not successful.

Fairfield carried its offensive momentum into the second half, opening with another shot by Luke Shreiner with another save keeping the lead intact. Merrimack posted just five shots in the second half, all coming within a five-minute stretch. Two of those attempts forced a save from Fairfield goalkeeper Evan Chomow, his only two stops of the match.

Following the five-shot frenzy by the Warriors, Fairfield would return to its control of the match. The Stags were able to put four more shots toward goal to keep pressure on the Merrimack defense. Pipeloore Olanrewaju was responsible for two of those shots while Tyrkus and Ortiz rounded out the attempts.

By the end of the game, Fairfield owned a decisive advantage in two offensive categories The Stags posted 16 shots compared to Merrimack's five attempts. And, Fairfield owned an 8-1 margin on corner kicks.