HAMILTON, N.Y. – A seven-goal run in the first half proved to be decisive as the Fairfield University men's lacrosse team knocked off defending Patriot League Champion Colgate, 12-7, on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton, N.Y. Colin Burke scored four goals with an assist for the Stags, while TJ Neubauer netted four goals and Charlie Horning totaled four points via a goal and three assists.
Fairfield (3-5), which bested the Raiders for the second consecutive season, also got goals from Drew Murray, Dave Fleming and the first career tally by Matt Borda. Charlie Schnider handed out a pair of assists, and Joe Guidarelli distributed the first helper of his career.
Fairfield was outshot by the Raiders, 36-30, but put 21 tries on goal to the host's 17.
Tyler Behring helmed the cage and made 10 saves in addition to four ground balls and a caused turnover. Neubauer added five ground balls for the Stags and Horning collected three. As a unit, the Stags won the battle for ground balls, 26-20.
At the faceoff 'X', Will Fox won 7-of-15 draws and Joe DeLasho scooped up three of his six attempts.
Sam Cleveland and Peter Donato each had three point performances for Colgate (3-5), while Brandon Burke made nine saves on the defensive end of the field.
Though the Raiders opened the scoring in the contest, the first quarter belonged to the Stags. Peter Donato's marker at 12:08 was the lone goal for the hosts in the frame as Fairfield answered with five first-quarter tallies. A transitional goal started the run as Guidarelli picked up his first career assists with a long feed to Horning who converted in front to knot the score at 1-1. Two Burke goals sandwiched around a Fleming marker extended the margin, and Schnider connected with Neubauer in the closing seconds of the period to round out the 5-1 advantage for the Stags after 15 minutes of action.
The momentum continued into the second quarter as the Stags converted their first extra-man opportunity of the day with Neubauer again finishing a Schnider feed. Colin Burke then capped his hat trick and reached the 20-goal mark for the season as the lead grew to 7-1.
Sam Cleveland's goal at 9:37 ended the Colgate scoring drought after more than 17 minutes, but the Stags had a quick answer as Drew Murray got on the board exactly one minute later as Fairfield re-established a six-goal advantage. Both defenses clamped down from that point forward, capped by the Stags fending off a long Raiders' possession in the closing minute of the half, as the 8-2 margin held into the intermission.
The squads traded goals in the third quarter with Fairfield supplying the answer to both Colgate tallies to maintain a six-goal lead. After Chase Wittich got on the board for the Raiders, Borda notched his first career goal for the Stags. The junior defenseman was unmarked and carried the ball the length of the field, stopping his run in front of the crease and rattling the cage for a goal. After a Cam Williams tally, the Stags ended the quarter with Burke's fourth goal in the closing seconds on a Horning assist to take a 10-4 lead into the final stanza.
With Fairfield slowing the pace offensively, the margin was more than sufficient for the Stags to keep the Raiders at bay in the fourth quarter. Neubauer scored twice in the final frame, while Colgate put home three goals to round out the final score at 12-7.
Fairfield returns to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Tuesday, March 22 to host in-state foe Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. The Bobcats stand at 3-2 following a home loss to Marquette this afternoon, 11-5.
Tuesday's game is a part of Youth Lacrosse Night at Rafferty Stadium. All youth lacrosse team members (8th grade and younger) that wear their jerseys will receive free admission to the game.
It will also be the final Lil' Stags Club Game on the men's lacrosse schedule. All Lil' Stags Club members will receive four free tickets to the game. Please RSVP by Monday, March 21 at 5 p.m. to lilstagsclub@fairfield.edu.
