FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The University of Massachusetts women’s soccer team fell on the road to Fairfield on Sunday afternoon at Lessing Field, 2-1. Lauren Bonavita scored her 22n.d career goal for the Minutewomen, putting home an Olympic with just three seconds remaining in the first half.
Lauren Robles set up the corner kick opportunity in the final 30 seconds of the opening half, beating a pair of defenders that led to a shot that was cleared off the goal line and eventually out of bounds. Bonavita took the corner kick from the left side with a right-footed strike that deflected off the far post and into the back of the net.
Fairfield equalized and then took the lead with a pair of goals in the final 13 minutes of play. Fiona Kane blocked an initial shot attempt before the ball landed at the feet of the Stags’ Maddie Mills to make it 1-1 in the 78th– minutes. The Stags scored just over four minutes later on a Sam Kersey goal from the right side to make it a 2-1 final.
The Minutewomen held the Stags to just three shot attempts in the first half before surrendering nine in the final 45. UMass recorded 11 of its 15 shots in the first half with Bonavita and Bella Recinos each putting two attempts on frame.
UMass continues non-conference play away from home on Thursday with a 5 pm matchup at Pittsburgh.
For complete coverage of the UMass women’s soccer team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @UMassWSoccer and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.