FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team closes out the 2016 non-conference schedule this Saturday, March 26 with a trip to No. 6 Villanova. The Stags are in search of their third straight win, while the Wildcats have won five consecutive games.
Fairfield's Last Time Out
TJ Neubauer and Colin Burke combined for nine goals as Fairfield raced past visiting Quinnipiac, 13-7, on Tuesday under the lights on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Neubauer added six ground balls to his five goals.
For the first time this season, the Stags never trailed en route to victory. Fairfield scored the first two goals of the game and later broke a 2-2 deadlock with five straight markers to close the first half and keep the Bobcats at arm's length for the remainder of the contest.
Joe Rodrigues added two goals with Charlie Horning and Conor Dalton each netting one. Charlie Schnider dished out two assists to improve his CAA-leading total to 17. Rodrigues, Jake Knostman and Drew Murray also distributed assists for the Stags.
On the opposite side of the field, goalkeeper Tyler Behring ceded a season-low seven goals for the second straight game and made eight saves.
The Stags dominated the possession game, winning 17-of-24 faceoffs. Will Fox went 15-of-19 at the 'X' with four ground balls - including a 7-of-7 second quarter and Fairfield built its comfortable advantage - and Joe DeLasho won a pair of draws.
Scouting Villanova
Ranked No. 6 in the USILA Coaches' Poll and No. 8 in the Cascade/Maverik Media Poll, Villanova enters the weekend with a record of 5-1. The squad is on the rebound from a 6-8 campaign in 2015 that ended in the Big East Championship Semifinals with a loss to eventual national champion Denver.
Saturday's game will break an 11-day hiatus for the Wildcats, who most recently took at 12-8 decision at Bucknell on March 15 to notch their fifth consecutive win. Villanova also owns wins over Penn State, Penn, and CAA opponents Drexel and Delaware. A season-opening overtime loss at Harvard marks the lone blemish on Villanova's 2016 record.
Jake Froccaro, the nation's leading goal scorer, heads up the Villanova attack. The junior transfer from Princeton has netted 27 markers to go along with five assists this spring. Devin McNamara, who missed all but one game last spring due to injury, adds 15 goals and seven assists. 2015 Second Team All-Big East midfielders Jack Curran and Sean Cerrone share the team high with 10 assists apiece.
The majority of the minutes in the cage have gone to Dan Willis, who is now two seasons removed from an All-Big East campaign in goal. Willis currently owns a 9.45 goals-against average and .465 save percentage. Nick Testa (4 goals, 2 saves) and Greg Stamatov (2 goals, 1 save) have each seen limited action in relief of Willis.
Villanova has controlled possession behind the strong work of Luke Palmadesso at the faceoff 'X'. He has won 103-of-152 draws (.678) with 49 ground balls.
Stags vs. Wildcats
Fairfield's 11-4 win last season on Dedication Day at Rafferty Stadium closed the gap in the all-time series to 4-3 in favor of the Wildcats. The series dates back to the Stags' second game as a varsity program in 1993.
In last spring's meeting, Tyler Behring made 16 saves to earn Inside Lacrosse Player of the Week honors. TJ Neubauer led Fairfield's attack with four goals and Charlie Schnider netted a goal with two assists. In addition, current Stag Charlie Horning scored for the Wildcats in the loss.
Conference Call
Fairfield begins the defense of its CAA regular season title next Saturday, April 2 at No. 19 Hofstra at 7 p.m. The Pride are 5-3 on the season with a Saturday trip to St. John's on tap before hosting the Stags.
Action returns to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m. for a visit from Drexel on Military Appreciation Day. That game is the second half of a doubleheader that will feature Fairfield women's lacrosse hosting MAAC opponent Siena at noon. Both ends of the twin bill will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
