April 29, 2007
The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team defeated visiting ECAC Lacrosse League foe St. John's University 13-6 on Senior Day at Lessing Field this afternoon. The Stags finish the season 6-6 overall and 2-5 in ECAC play, while the Red Storm finish at 5-8 overall and 2-5 in conference action.
The Stags wasted little time in jumping out to a lead, scoring 2:08 into the game, and taking a 9-0 lead into the intermission. The Red Storm scored five unanswered, four in the third quarter, to creep to within four goals, 9-5, but the Stags notched four straight goals in a 2:08 span to put the game away.
Fairfield senior Greg Downing netted the team's third goal of the game, man-up, at the 9:39 mark of the first quarter. It was the 100th goal of his Fairfield career, becoming just the fourth player in program history to reach the mark. He added another goal later, his 20th, for his fourth 20-goal season. He had an assist as well in the game.
Fairfield had eight different players net goals in the first half, building a 5-0 first quarter lead. Senior Brian Gorman started the scoring, followed by Mike Bocklet, Downing, Dan Boudreau, and Travis Nelson. Andrew Urquhart touched net 18 seconds into the second quarter, and was followed by goals from Brian Stanton, Gary Raniolo and Bocklet.
Mike Kruger, playing his final game with the Stags, made 17 saves, in picking up the victory. Dave Saccente took the loss, allowing 10 goals in 53:58, with 11 saves. Gavin Buckley played the final 6:02 of the game in net for St. John's, allowing three goals.
Bocklet finished with two goals and an assist, for the Stags, while Nelson had three points on a goal and two assists. Boudreau and Raniolo both scored twice in the game.
The Red Storm were led by Tom Michaelsen, who scored three goals. Graeme Gillespie had two goals and Rob Gannon, one.
The Stags were 4-5 on man-up chances in the game, and cleared well, 26-29. The Stags won 11 of the 21 face-offs contested and had a 27-25 advantage in ground balls. Fairfield was out shot in the game 47-35.
