FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team can clinch a share of the CAA regular season title on Friday, wrapping up the slate with a trip to Delaware. The Stags can also stay in the hunt for the top seed and hosting duties for the upcoming CAA Championship with a victory over the Blue Hens at Delaware Stadium.
The CAA Playoff Picture
With a win on Friday, the Stags (3-1) would clinch a share of the CAA regular season championship. Fairfield can also earn the top seed for the CAA Championship if Hofstra (3-1) defeats Towson (3-1) on Saturday in addition to a Stags victory on Friday.
Towson is the lone team that controls its own destiny for the Association's top seed, which the Tigers would earn with a Saturday win over Hofstra. The Pride can also secure the top seed with a win and a Fairfield loss.
Delaware (2-2) is vying for the remaining playoff berth, which it would secure with a win. If the Stags top the Blue Hens, Drexel (1-3) would have the chance to slide into the postseason as the fourth seed with a win over UMass (0-4).
Fairfield's Last Time Out
Fairfield was handed its first Colonial Athletic Association loss of the spring, falling to No. 10 nationally-ranked Towson by a score of 18-11 last Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Colin Burke tallied a career-high seven points for the Stags, and Nico Panepinto netted his first career hat trick and added an assist to total a career-best four points.
Scouting Delaware
An overtime loss to visiting Drexel this past Saturday moved the Delaware Blue Hens to 5-9 overall and 2-2 in the CAA. Delaware can clinch a berth in the CAA Championship with a win over the Stags. With a loss, the Blue Hens could be supplanted in the postseason by Drexel if the Dragons knock off UMass in their regular season finale.
Paul Major leads the Blue Hens with 24 goals and 32 total points, with Andrew Romagnoli adding 19 goals and a team-leading 10 assists. Steve DeLargy adds 20 points courtesy of 14 goals and six assists.
Parker Ferrigan has appeared in all 14 games (13 starts) in the cage for Delaware. In 767 minutes of action, he holds a 10.24 goals against average and .478 save percentage. Conor Peak has served the remaining 76 minutes in goal, ceding 16 goals with 10 saves for a 12.54 GAA and .385 save percentage.
The Blue Hens have utilized two faceoff specialists with draws split nearly down the middle by Sam Walsh and Jake Hervada. Walsh holds a .523 win percentage at 79-of-151, with Hervada adding an even .500 mark at 58-of-116.
Stags vs. Blue Hens
Last season's double overtime win for the Stags evened the all-time series at 3-3. Fairfield has won the last three meetings (2009, 2014 and 2015), with Delaware's victories in the series coming in 1996, 1996 and 1998.
In addition to shared CAA opponents, the Stags and Blue Hens have both lost to nationally-ranked, non-conference foes Bucknell, Villanova and Rutgers this season.
The Playoff Push
Details surrounding the Stags' trip to the 2016 CAA Championship will be available on FairfieldStags.com as they are finalized by the Association.
