The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team hits the road for the first time in 2016, traveling to Piscataway, N.J. on Saturday to challenge Rutgers. Faceoff at High Point Solutions Stadium is slated for 3 p.m. and will broadcast live on BTN Plus.
Fairfield's Last Time Out
Tyler Behring made a career-high 23 saves in goal, but the Stags were upended by visiting Bucknell by a 13-8 count on Saturday, Feb. 20. TJ Neubauer led the offense with three goals and an assist.
In addition to Neubauer's hat trick, the Stags benefitted from two Joe Rodrigues goals as well as markers from Charlie Schnider, Colin Burke and the first career tally from Nico Panepinto. Burke, who is the reigning CAA Rookie of the Week, also handed out two assists.
Behring's 23-save performance marked the best in the nation since Detroit's Jason Weber turned away 28 offerings from Mercer on March 4, 2015. It was also the most saves by a CAA netminder since Austin Kaut made 25 stops for Penn State against Massachusetts on March 19, 2011.
In front of Behring, Matt Borda led the defensive effort with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Logan Williamson also collected three ground balls.
To go along with his four-point day, Neubauer had a team-best four ground balls as Fairfield nabbed 17 to Bucknell's 36. The Bison were bolstered in that department by a 19-6 advantage at the faceoff 'X'.
Bucknell was guided on the offensive end by three goals and two assists from Sean Doyle. Will Sands added a goal and two helpers, and Tommy O'Connor netted a pair for the unbeaten Bison.
Scouting Rutgers
After posting a 5-10 record last spring, Rutgers has had a strong start to the 2016 campaign with wins over St. John's (19-11) and Army West Point (13-11). The Scarlet Knights' 2-0 record has them unranked but receiving votes in both the USILA Coaches' and Cascade/Maverik Media Polls.
Adam Charalambides has already netted an NCAA-leading 10 goals for Rutgers – he had six goals and an assist against St. John's and found the back of the cage four times against Army West Point. Charalambides shares the team high of 11 points with 2015 First Team All-Big Ten pick Scott Bieda, who has accumulated six goals and five assists this season.
Stags vs. Scarlet Knights
Fairfield and Rutgers renew their all-time series for the first time since 2009. The Stags went 4-0 against the Scarlet Knights when the teams clashed annually as ECAC Lacrosse League foes from 2006-09. Rutgers' lone win against Fairfield was a 7-6 triple-overtime decision in 2004 – the first meeting between the clubs.
Up Next
Fairfield will have quick turnaround, returning to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium to host Massachusetts-Lowell on Tuesday, March 1 for a 3 p.m. contest. The Riverhawks are 0-2 in their second season as an NCAA Division I program after posting a 1-13 mark in 2015 – including an 11-5 home loss to the Stags. Massachusetts-Lowell will travel to Siena on Saturday prior to visiting Fairfield next week.
