Feb. 20, 2007

The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team begins its second season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League, looking to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Head Coach Ted Spencer, in his 12th season at the helm of the Stags, will have plenty of tools to prevent that from occurring and return the Stags to the national spotlight.

The Stags return 34 letterwinners from a season ago, including their three top scorers, and six of seven players who finished last season in double figures in points. The program also has back nearly its entire defensive unit, including its starting goalkeeper. To that, the Stags have added 15 newcomers, including a freshmen class numbering 13 strong, with the talent to contribute immediately.

All-America candidate Greg Downing begins his senior campaign as the Stags only two-time All-America selection.

Tewaaraton Award and All-America candidate Greg Downing returns for his senior season with the Stags, on pace to become just the fourth Stag to record 100 career goals. The first two-time All-America selection in program history, enters the season ranked fifth all-time with 114 points and 81 goals. Downing plays both ways for the Stags, showing a prowess for the defensive side of the game as well. He is three ground balls shy of reaching the century mark for his career.

The Stags have another legitimate All-America candidate in senior Mike Bocklet, the team's leading scorer a season ago with 37 points. He ranks in the top-10 in all three offensive categories, including 108 points, combining with Downing as just the second pair of classmates to reach the century mark in points during their careers. Bocklet dished averaged 1.15 assists per game last season, 44th nationally, while he ranked 36th nationally at 2.85 points per game.

Mike Bocklet led the Stags in total points in 2006 and looks to pace the offense again as a senior.

Joining Bocklet up front will be junior Travis Nelson. At 6-foot-5 he is an intimidating presence around the crease, where he tallied 25 goals last season, 34th in the nation. He also dished out 11 assists, third on the team, giving him 36 points, 45th in the country. Nelson tallied four man-up goals and had game-winning goals in two games.

Coach Spencer has several other veteran options to round out the attack unit. Junior Brendan Finnerty was one of seven Stags with double-digit points last year, tallying 14, on six goals and eight assists. Sophomore Kevin Wolff had five points in his first collegiate season, touching net twice during the year.

Senior Jake Olson has appeared in 38 games during his career and touched net four times, including once last season, for eight career points. Junior Casey Martin had four points, two goals and two assists, in eight games last spring as well. Sophomore Dan Hettler played in a contest as a rookie and continues to develop his collegiate game. Freshman Logan Rausse will also compete for time at the attack. He had a strong fall season and his strong lacrosse instinct make him a candidate for playing time this spring.

Downing will not be alone in the midfield, joined by another of the Stags All-America candidates, Chris Manley. Manley provides a strong leader on the field, as well as the ability to play at both ends of the field. He is the fourth leading returning scorer from a year ago with 24 points, including finishing second on the team with 12 assists.

Senior Brian Gorman is another veteran who will be counted on to provide leadership on and off the field. He continues to show signs of coming into his own and will be counted on to provide minutes in the midfield. Junior Dan Boudreau continues to develop as an offensive threat, providing an additional presence on the attack. He has netted 17 goals in two years, 10 last year, and dished out four assists in each of his first two seasons.

Brian Gorman is one of the seniors that the Stags will rely on this season.

Expected to run alongside the veterans as a member of the first midfield is rookie Kevin Peters. A speedy and athletic player he garnered a year of additional seasoning at Salisbury school last year, and is projected to see extensive game time this year.

Three members of the junior class are going to be counted on to continue to come into their owns this season and contribute on the offensive side of the field. Bobby Edmundowicz continues to develop his level of play and is being counted on to provide valuable minutes this spring. Nick Lattimore has seen action in 20 games during his career with the Stags. He has netted a pair of goals and is going to be looked for to continue to develop into an offensive weapon. Brian Stanton tallied seven points, with six goals, including three man-up tallies, as a sophomore.

Sophomore Andrew Cabrey got his feet wet last season, seeing action in six games. Transfer Chris Campbell, who attended Penn State last season, is a dangerous two-way player. His athletic ability has him slated to play with the first or second midfield, and provide an immediate contribution.

Two veteran players provide the Stags with additional midfield depth, in junior Ryan Brassel and sophomore Mike Graziano. Several newcomers are in the mix as well; Graham Bergsma, Brian Fitzgerald, Justin Mulford, Josh Orchant, and Steve Zande.

Charlie Keinath has established himself as one of the top face-off men in the country the past two seasons.

The Stags have had success in taking face-offs in recent history, and this team should be no difference. The top option is senior Charlie Keinath, who ranked 24th in the nation last season, winning 52.7 percent of the face-offs he contested. He takes face-offs with a never say die attitude, giving him wins after losing the initial draw. Senior Brian Gorman has won 50 percent of the face-offs he has contested during his career. His experience and offensive ability, three assists last spring, allow him to be in the game in big situations.

Junior Sean Fay and newcomer Andrew Urquhart will also battle for time in the middle. Fay is a big, 6-foot-3, and strong player, with quick hands. He captured 24 face-off wins during the 2006 campaign. Urquhart is a newcomer, attending Maryland last season, but is no stranger to the campus, having attended Fairfield Prep. He is a strong, quick player, who gives the face-off unit an additional offensive weapon.

The defensive middies are also strong heading into the spring with two veteran players, Will Dickey and Chris Ajemian. Dickey, a junior, is a speedy player, who plays a hard-nosed defensive style. He also provides an effective wing on the face-offs. Ajemian gives the Stags a strong transition option, giving the team the ability to turn a defensive situation into a dangerous offensive threat.

Charlie Keinath adds depth at this position as well, using his strength and desire to counteract his smaller frame. Sophomore Gary Raniolo gives the Stags a physical presence in the defensive midfield with his tough style of play. One of the hardest workers on the team, he saw action in 10 games as a rookie, contributing a goal to the offensive effort.

Senior Tim Gazzini is a perfect example of what being a team player is all about. He makes the switch to the midfield this year, after spending his first three seasons as a goalkeeper for the Stags.

Chris Atwell will be counted on to lead and anchors the Stags defense this spring.

A reliable quartet will be the centerpieces of the Stags defensive unit. Leading that group will be junior captain Chris Atwell. The team's top cover defender, he has covered the opponent's top attackmen since his arrival on campus. Atwell's size and athleticism gives him the ability to cover some of the nation's top attackmen. Junior Matt Scanlon is a hard-nosed defender with an active stick. He is an intelligent defender that helps put him in good defensive situations most of the time.

Sophomore Billy Honovich showed the ability to be a dominating defender during his rookie season, playing in 10 games. He plays a physical brand of defense and his work ethic gives him the ability to continue to improve his game. His classmate Matt Petre is also an athletic defenseman who plays aggressive defense. He plays a flexible style on the field, allowing him to defend a variety of offensive styles.

Senior Nate Kirnie is a veteran option in the back. He is a leader by example, with a great work ethic both on and off the field. Junior Jeff Hussey saw action in six games as a sophomore. His physical style of play adds a punch to the Stags defensive unit.

Coach Spencer has four additional sophomores to utilize in the back: Craig Harbeck, Patrick Hovey, Luke Martin, and Kevin Reynolds. Long stick depth is further enhanced by the addition of three freshmen: Luke Andrews, Mike Gianelle and Matt Spencer. All three are physical players who will contribute to the Stags efforts during their collegiate careers, if not this season.

Mike Kruger is the Stags incumbent goal keeper and will anchor the defensive unit in 2007.

Senior Mike Kruger is the incumbent goalkeeper for the Stags, having seen action in 40 games over the last three years, playing over 2100 minutes in that span. He has twice posted 20 save games, in wins against Harvard the past two campaigns, and ranked nationally in save percentage and goals against average.

Junior Jeff Cilente will challenge for time as well this season. In his two seasons he has played 60 minutes, recording 10 saves. A pair of newcomers will also compete for playing time this spring. Pat Judge is a lefty, who has the ability to make the difficult look easy and is difficult to rattle. The other newcomer is Piet Dudley, who played well in the fall and has picked up the defensive scheme quickly this fall.

The Stags are now in their second season as a member of the ECAC Lacrosse League, with the regular season champion earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Stags have a 12-game slate, with seven league opponents on the schedule

Fairfield kicks off the season at home with a non-conference meeting against Providence, February 24. The Stags then take to the road for a March 3 contest at Dartmouth. The program's league season-opener is March 10 against Rutgers at home. That game is the first of three home games during Spring Break for the Stags, who will also host Bucknell and Harvard.

The Stags will travel to State College, Pa., for a March 24 league game at Penn State, the beginning of a season-long road trip. The following Saturday Fairfield will be at league foe Hobart, and will play a conference game at Georgetown on April 7. Fairfield will host ACC member North Carolina on Sunday, April 15, before heading back out on the road for a meeting with ECAC member Loyola.

The regular season will wrap up with the Stags playing a pair of home games against ECAC Lacrosse League members. Fairfield hosts defending national runner-up UMass on April 24, before wrapping up the campaign with an April 29 contest against St. John's.