FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team continues its 2016 home slate on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium with a Saturday visit from Bucknell. The Stags were edged by the Bison, 10-9, last season in Lewisburg, Pa. and took a 10-6 decision at home in the 2014 campaign.
Faceoff on Conway Field is slated for 12 p.m. as the front-end of a doubleheader that will also feature Fairfield women's lacrosse hosting Boston University at 3 p.m. Both ends of the Saturday afternoon twin bill will be broadcast live on FairfieldStags.TV.
Gameday Promotions
Fairfield is proud to announce vineyard vines as the presenting sponsor of Saturday's doubleheader. A campus representative from vineyard vines will be distributing promotional items to Fairfield students on the concourse of Rafferty Stadium throughout the day. In addition, all Fairfield students in attendance can enter a halftime raffle for prizes including a $500 gift card and vineyard vines apparel.
Fairfield's Last Time Out
Fairfield opened its 2016 campaign with an 11-10 loss to visiting Richmond on Monday, Feb. 15. Charlie Schnider led the Stags on the offensive end with three goals and two assists. Colin Burke also recorded a hat trick and picked up an assist in his collegiate debut. Tyler Behring made 15 saves in goal for Fairfield.
Scouting Bucknell
Coming off of a 9-6 campaign and a trip to the Patriot League Championship Semifinals last spring, the Bison from Bucknell University have opened their 2016 season at 2-0. Bucknell began the campaign with a 13-5 home win over CAA opponent Delaware on Feb. 6 and most recently edged Bryant, 11-10, in a contest played indoors on Feb. 14.
Connor O'Hara and Will Sands have each scored five of Bucknell's 24 goals through two games this season. Sands, who ranked second on the team with 26 goals and 16 assists as a rookie, has also handed out two assists in 2016 to round out his team-leading seven points. Christian Klipstein has played all 120 minutes between the posts, recording a 7.50 goals-against average and a .571 save percentage.
The Bison graduated three All-Patriot League performers from 2015. The lone returner to earn all-conference laurels last season is Alex Spring, a First Team selection at LSM and eighth round draft pick of the Florida Launch.
Stags vs. Bison
After the Bison claimed a 10-9 decision last season in Lewisburg, the all-time series between Fairfield and Bucknell is tied at 2-2. The home team has won all four games in the series, which began with a Stags triumph in 2007.
Fairfield also knocked off the Bison, 10-6, in 2014. The other Bucknell win was a 9-8 victory for the then-No. 14 Bison in 2008.
Coaching Connections
Fairfield Head Coach Andy Copelan and Associate Head Coach Andy Whitley have both played collegiately for current Bucknell Head Coach Frank Fedorjaka.
Whitley was a two-time All-Centennial Conference goalkeeper at Franklin & Marshall College, where Fedorjaka served as head coach. Whitley's career with the Diplomats included a trip to the NCAA postseason in 1995.
Fedorjaka then assumed an assistant coaching position at Bucknell, a stint that overlapped with Copelan's playing career with the Bison from 1999-2003.
Five for Five
Charlie Schnider began his senior season with a five-point outing. The co-captain of the Stags netted a hat trick and dished out two assists in Fairfield's 11-10 loss to Richmond on Feb. 15.
Schnider's career best is six points (five goals, one assist) in the Stags' 15-4 win over Manhattan last season.
An Immediate Impact
Colin Burke racked up four points in his collegiate debut - scoring three goals and handing out an assist in the Stags' season opener agaisnt Richmond. He was lauded for his efforts as the inaugural CAA Rookie of the Week for the 2016 season.
Up Next
The Stags hit the road for the first time in 2016 next Saturday, Feb. 27, with a trip to Rutgers. Faceoff from Piscataway, N.J. is slated for 3 p.m. The Scarlet Knights, who travel to Army West Point on Saturday, are currently 1-0 following a 19-11 home win over St. John's on Feb. 12.
Fairfield will then have a short turnaround as action returns to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Tuesday, March 1 for a visit from Massachusetts-Lowell.
