The Fairfield University men’s lacrosse team dropped a 13-4 decision to visiting ECAC Lacrosse League foe Loyola College on Lessing Field Saturday afternoon.  The defeat drops the Stags to 3-8 overall and 1-4 in conference action, while the Greyhounds improve to 7-4 on the year and 6-0 in ECAC play.  The victory clinches Loyola the ECAC regular season title and the league’s automatic NCAA berth.

Loyola wasted little time in putting its mark on the game, opening an 8-0 halftime advantage.  Collin Finnerty netted the first two goals of the game for the Greyhounds, scoring eight seconds apart in the first quarter, 13:47 and 13:39.  Shane Koppens, Joe Landry and Jimmy Daly each scored twice in the game for Loyola, with Daly providing the game-winner at the 6:05 mark of the first quarter.

Travis Nelson would put the Stags on the board 3:51 into the second half, netting a pass from senior classmate Nick Lattimore.  Ryan Mulford started the fourth quarter off on the right foot for the Stags, scoring unassisted, to make the score 10-2.  After a Loyola tally at 8:58, Nelson and Chris Ajemian scored back-to-back for Fairfield to make the deficit 11-4.

The teams were even in shots, 37-37, with Loyola’s Jake Hagelin and Rob Shinall combining for 12 saves.  Hagelin earned the victory with nine saves, allowing two goals, in 53:15.  Joe Marra made seven saves, in 51:02, while allowing 11 goals for Fairfield.  Jeff Cilente minded the net the final 8:58 for Fairfield, making one save, and giving up a pair of goals.

The Stags cleared the ball well all afternoon, finishing 19-20, with the Greyhounds going 20-25.  Loyola picked up more ground balls, 34-23, and had more turnovers, 24-16.

Fairfield will return to action on Tuesday, April 22, traveling to UMass, before closing out the season on Saturday, April 26, at St. John’s.  Both games are ECAC Lacrosse League contests.