FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Niagara University women’s soccer team (7-5-0, 2-2-0) allowed three goals within the first 13 minutes of play, falling to Fairfield University (4-10-0, 3-2-0), 4-3, Friday at Lessing Field.
In rainy conditions, the Stags scored goals in the fourth, fifth and 13 minute to take a 3-0 lead over the Purple Eagles, which moved to 2-2-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
"We’re not going to win many games if we don’t come out to play from the start of the game," head coach Peter Veltri said.
Fairfield senior forward Meghan King scored the Stags first goal in the fourth minute. Following a Fairfield corner kick, King finished a scramble in front of the Niagara net to score her fourth goal of the season.
The Stags took a two-goal lead just over a minute following King’s goal, after freshman Janna Breitenwischer took a shot from just outside the Purple Eagles’ penalty area, beating junior goalkeeper Katy Owings (Annapolis, Md.) to the far post.
In the 13th minute, senior Megan Mones added the Stags third goal of the contest, lofting a 30-yard shot over Owings to score her first goal of the season.
Down three goals, sophomore midfielder Emily Montgomery (Oshawa, Ont.) would score Niagara’s first goal of the contest in the 23rd minute. Tallying a goal in her second consecutive game, Montgomery’s shot from 25 yards deflected off a Stag defender and past goalkeeper Brett Maron.
Junior defender Amber Niece (Port Colbourne, Ont.) scored her first of two goals just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Niece pounced on a loose ball in the Fairfield box and shot a low shot past Maron to cut the Stag lead to just a goal at half.
Fairfield would get the game-winning goal in the 59th minute when junior Shannon Helm beat Owings one-on-one, taking a 4-2 lead. Helm was sprung on a through-ball from Mones.
Niece would add a late goal in the 89th minute.
Fairfield outshot the Purple Eagles, 19-17, in the victory, with Maron making seven saves. Owings made five saves in the loss for Niagara.
The Purple Eagles continue conference play Sunday, traveling to Iona College for a game at 1 p.m.
