TOWSON, Md. – The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team was handed its first Colonial Athletic Association loss of the spring, falling to No. 10 nationally-ranked Towson by a score of 18-11 on Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Colin Burke tallied a career-high seven points for the Stags.
With the loss, Fairfield stands at an even 7-7 overall and 3-1 in the CAA. Towson, the defending champion of the Association, moves to 11-2 on the season and also holds a 3-1 CAA mark.
Burke's seven-point performance, which consisted of five goals and two assists, moves him into historic company in the Fairfield record books. With 51 total points (37 goals, 14 assists) this spring, he joins Colin McLinden '15 as the only two Stags since 1999 to record a 50-point season. Burke is also two points shy of the program's freshman scoring record of 53 points accumulated by J.T. Groarke '99 in 1996. With 37 goals, Burke is just one tally behind the Fairfield rookie record of 38 tallies racked up by Spencer Steele '00 in the 1997 season.
In Saturday's contest, Nico Panepinto reached a pair of personal career bests with three goals and four total points. Charlie Horning, Drew Murray (man-up) and Conor Dalton all added single tallies for Fairfield, while Horning, Murray and Dave Fleming each handed out one assist. Horning also reeled in four ground balls from his attack position.
Will Fox headed the efforts at the faceoff 'X' with a 16-for-24 showing. The reigning CAA Rookie of the Year also collected seven ground balls. Joe DeLasho spelled his classmate Fox and won three draws, while senior midfielders TJ Neubauer and Joe Guidarelli aided the cause with five ground balls apiece.
Tyler Behring made four saves in the Fairfield cage. In front of the junior goalkeeper, Logan Williams and Matt Borda each collected one ground ball with one caused turnover.
Mike Lynch paced the Towson attack with five goals and an assist, while Spencer Park scored three goals with two helpers and Ryan Drenner potted a hat trick. Goalkeeper Tyler White made five saves.
The Tigers held a 41-33 advantage in shots and 35-29 edge in ground balls. Murray's man-up marker was the Stags' lone extra-man goal in three attempts. Fairfield was not penalized in the game.
The Stags travel to Delaware to close out the regular season this Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. With a win over the Blue Hens, Fairfield would claim a share of the CAA regular season title. If a Stags' victory is coupled by a Hofstra win over Towson, Fairfield will garner the top seed and the right to host the 2016 CAA Championship on May 5-7. A Towson win would secure the top seed and home-field advantage for the Tigers regardless of other results around the league next weekend.
