April 15, 2007
The #19 Fairfield University men's lacrosse team battled the elements and #10 North Carolina on Sunday, falling 12-8, in a non-conference contest. The Stags drop to 5-4 on the year while the Tar Heels improve to 8-4.
North Carolina took control of the game from the opening face-off, scoring just 59 seconds into the contest. The Tar Heels opened a 4-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Stags however responded as the quarter wound down. Chris Campbell scored unassisted at 5:01 to put the home team on the board. Greg Downing scored his first of the game at 2:24 and captain Tim Gazzini scored his first career goal at 1:06 to end the quarter trailing 4-3.
The Tar Heels scored all five goals that were tallied in the second quarter, building a 9-3 advantage. The Stags struck first in the second half, as Travis Nelson scored unassisted at 14:27 of the third quarter. North Carolina scored the next two goals, before Downing touched net at 7:32 to make the score 11-5. UNC made it 12-5 just 27 seconds later, but would not score again. Downing scored, on a Mike Bocklet pass, with 3:29 left in the third quarter, and Fairfield scored the only two goals in the fourth quarter, for the final score.
Downing led the Stags with three goals and one assist, while Bocklet had a goal and two assists. Chris Ajemian, Campbell, Nelson and Gazzini all had tallies for the Stags, while Chris Manley had an assist. Mike Kruger made 13 saves in the defeat.
Rob Driscoll and Ben Hunt both touched net three times for the visitor, with Driscoll adding an assist. Grant Zimmerman made 11 saves in the win for North Carolina.
The Fairfield man-down unit continued to excel, stopping the Tar Heels on all seven chances, while the Stags man-up was 0-3. North Carolina out shot the Stags 39-28 and held a 25-18 advantage on ground balls. Fairfield won nine of 24 face-offs in the game, with five wins in the second half.
The Stags cleared well for the day, 20-26, including 8-8 in the final quarter. North Carolina was nearly perfect, going 18-19 in the game, including 9-9 in the first half.
The Stags return to action on Saturday, April 21, traveling to ECAC Lacrosse League foe, Loyola College for a 1 p.m. contest.
