There were many highlights in the spring from Alex Taylor competing in the NCAA Golf Regional to men's lacrosse earning their highest-ever national ranking to baseball setting the program record for wins. Here's a look back at Spring 2014.
Baseball: The 2014 season was one of the best in program history, as the Stags recorded 32 victories, the most ever by a squad. At 32-24, Fairfield finished with a record above .500 for the first time in 14 years. With a 15-8 MAAC record, the Stags posted their most conference wins since 2000, and earned the third seed in the MAAC Championship for the second time in three years. The Stags won seven of our eight MAAC regular season series and finished the regular season ranked third in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Coaches Poll, the highest-ever ranking. The pitching staff was one of the best in the MAAC as well. They finished with a 3.77 earned run average, which is the program's best single season ERA in the last 30 years. Four Stags earn All-MAAC honors, the most-ever in one season. Senior catcher Ryan Plourde was named to the All-MAAC First Team for the second straight year while junior pitcher EJ Ashworth and sophomore designated hitter Jake Salpietro joined him on the First Team. Sophomore pitcher Mike Wallace earned All-MAAC Second Team honors. Plourde and Salpietro were also named to the NEIBA First Team while Plourde became only the third Stag in program history to earn ABCA honors as he was voted to the All-Northeast Region Second Team.
Men's & Women's Golf: Sophomore Alex Taylor captured the men's individual crown at MAAC Tournament, becoming the second consecutive Stag to win the McLeod Trophy. Taylor's automatic NCAA berth sent him to Columbia, Mo. to play in the NCAA Regionals at Old Hawthorne. As a team, the Fairfield men placed second overall at the MAAC Championship. The women's team captured the Delaware State Invitational in October and the Navy Spring Classic in April with junior Emma Ritzmann finishing as the runner-up.
Men's Lacrosse: The Stags had one of their best seasons in program history in 2014, finishing the year ranked 18th in the USILA Poll and 20th in the Inside Lacrosse Poll. The Stags went 12-4 overall, tying the program record for wins, and captured a share of the 2014 ECAC Lacrosse League Regular Season Championship. Fairfield was ranked as high as 11th in the country during an impressive seven-game winning streak. That streak began with a 12-11 overtime victory over Yale, the first-ever win for Fairfield over the Bulldogs. Colin McLinden was a USILA All-American Honorable Mention after posting 51 points for the Stags, including 29 assists and 22 goals. It was the first 50-point season for a Stag since 1997. McLinden, named to the ECAC First Team and the NEILA Second Team, was one of several Stags to earn individual recognition. Jack Murphy was named the ECAC Goalkeeper of the Year and earned spots in the USILA North-South Game and the NEILA East-West Game. Dave Fleming was named the ECAC Rookie of the Year. Toby Armour was named to the ECAC Second Team, the NEILA Second Team Team, and played in the USILA North-South Game. TJ Neubauer was named to the NEILA First Team and to the ECAC First Team. Tristan Sperry and Eric Warden also earned All-ECAC honors while Warden played in the USILA North-South Game.
Women's Lacrosse: The Stags clinched their tenth MAAC Regular Season Championship by knocking off Canisius, 11-9, in the regular season finale. The Stags, who made their ninth consecutive MAAC Tournament appearance, finished the season at 12-5 overall and 7-1 in the MAAC. Seven Stags earned All-MAAC honors. Melanie Raso, Erinn Hogan, Meghan Reda, and Chelsey Sidaras were named to the All-MAAC First Team. Senior Jenna Slowey earned All-MAAC Second Team accolades while Riley Hellstein and Alex Fehmel were both named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Raso represented the Stags in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) North-South All-Star Game. Raso had a strong senior campaign in which she set the new draw controls record, finishing with 153 to her credit. Two Stags finished among the national statistical leaders. Sidaras finished the season ranked fifth in the nation for GAA (7.23) and 21st for save percentage (0.459). Reda finished the season ranked 23rd in the nation for caused turnovers per game (1.65).
Men's & Women's Rowing: It was a great spring for the rowing program. The women's varsity four placed first at the MAAC Championships while the women's varsity eight qualified for the petite final at the Dad Vail Regatta for the first time since 2001. The women's second varsity 8 was named All-MAAC and received a MAAC Boat of the Week award. The Men's varsity eight won three straight races during the spring, the first victories in that event since Spring, 2008. With the string of success, the boat earned two MAAC Boat of the Week awards and All-MAAC honors. Individually, Maria Levano earned All-Region honors from the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association while Samantha Clifford received an invitation to the USRowing Pre-Elite Training Camp.
Softball: The Stags won 18 of their final 24 regular-season games to earn a berth to the 2014 MAAC Tournament, which the team hosted in early May. Lauren Liseth received a spot on the Capital One Academic All-District first team, which placed her on the Academic All-America national ballot. Rae Ball was named the MAAC Pitcher of the Year and joined Kristen Filicia, Lauren Filicia, and Gianna Kinhofer on the All-MAAC first team. Sammy Ruffolo collected All-MAAC second team honors. Kristen Filicia also garnered All-ECAC honors. Ball, the Filcia sisters, and Liseth earned All-Region accolades from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Head Coach Julie Brzezinski won her 700th career game as part of a doubleheader sweep against Quinnipiac University.
Men's Tennis: The Stags made their seventh consecutive MAAC Tournament appearance, finishing the year at 10-10 overall. Sophomore Ofir Solomon earned All-MAAC First Team honors at No. 2 singles for the Stags. Solomon went 21-4 overall in singles play, including a 7-0 mark in MAAC play. He won 14 consecutive singles matches to conclude the season. Senior Dennis Zlobinsky finished his career with 128 combined victories, tied for fifth all-time at Fairfield.
Women's Tennis: The Stags made their seventh consecutive MAAC Tournament appearance, advancing to the finals once again. They finished with a 12-10 overall record. The entire Stags roster earned All-MAAC honors for their efforts in both singles and doubles play. Senior Monica Yajima was named to the All-MAAC First Team at No. 1 singles for the fourth consecutive year. Yajima, who also earned All-MAAC Second Team honors in doubles, finished her career with 143 combined victories, good for second all-time. Senior Sharissa Ryan closed out her career by garnering All-MAAC Second Team honors at both doubles and singles. She posted 135 combined career victories, to rank fourth in program history.
