FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's lacrosse team continues a three-game homestand on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium with a visit from Villanova on Saturday, March 25. For fans that cannot attend the game, the Stags will make their first-ever appearance on Facebook Live beginning at 1 p.m.
Fairfield University's 75th Anniversary
Fairfield men's lacrosse will join in the University's year-long celebration of its 75th Anniversary in conjunction with Saturday's game. The Stags are celebrating their own milestone year in 2017 as this spring's team is the 25th varsity team in program history after a run as a highly-successful club squad. The inaugural NCAA varsity team from the spring of 1993 will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game.
On-Campus Parking Notice
Due to campus construction, the parking lot adjacent to the Kelley Center will be closed to the general public for the remainder of the season. Parking will be available in the lot between University Field and Lessing Field and as directed by parking attendants on gameday. We request the cooperation of all fans in observing all posted signage when parking on campus.
Handicapped parking is available for those with proper permits on a first come, first served basis. Those in need of additional assistance are encouraged to contact Fairfield Athletics at 203-254-4000 ext. 2208 prior to gameday to ensure that proper accommodations are met.
Fairfield's Last Time Out
Led by hat tricks from freshmen Dylan Beckwith and Travis Ford, Fairfield powered past visiting NJIT, 13-6, on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Nine different players notched points for the Stags en route to matching their season high of 13 goals in the home victory.
In addition to matching their season-high scoring output, the Stags limited an opponent to single-digit tallies for the fifth time in their last six outings.
Beckwith totaled a career-best five points with two assists to go along with his hat trick. Ford's hat trick was the second of his career. Dave Fleming and Jake Knostman each added two goals to the scoring effort.
Helping to keep the Stags' offense on the field was Joe DeLasho, who went 14-of-18 on the draw with eight ground balls.
Scouting Villanova
Villanova comes to Rafferty Stadium on a three-game winning streak - including road wins at Brown and then-No. 4 Maryland - to even its 2017 tally at 4-4. The Wildcats are currently unranked but receiving consideration from three major national outlets (see page 4). Villanova, which is 3-0 on the road this spring, most recently picked up its first home win of the season with a 13-8 triumph over Bucknell on Tuesday.
Jack Curran leads the Villanova attack with 23 goals and 12 assists with Christian Cuccinello adding 16 goals and a team-leading 15 assists. The Wildcats have been fueled in several facets of the game by Jake Froccaro. The First Team All-Big East talent has netted 19 goals with eight assists and also heads the effort on the draw at 58-of-98 (.592) with a team-high 57 ground balls. Collectively, Villanova sits at 122-of-235 (.519) at the faceoff dot.
Nick Testa and Dan Willis have shared time in the cage this spring. Testa has played 278:50 in goal en route to a 12.70 goals-against average and .359 save percentage (59 goals allowed, 33 saves). Willis, who started last year's meeting with the Stags, owns a 13.68 GAA and .405 save percentage (47 goals allowed, 32 saves) in 204:37 of work. Testa has started seven of eight games with Tuesday's game against the Bison serving as his first complete-game effort of the season.
Getting Defensive
Over their last six games, the Stags have only allowed one opponent to score double figures, as Yale netted 11 in their double overtime encounter on March 11. During the six-game span, The Fairfield defense has allowed 8.33 goals per game with the Stags' goalkeeping duo of Tyler Behring and Brad Nordstrom posting a .573 save percentage and 8.18 goals-against average.
In its most notable performance during the stretch, Fairfield is the only team to have limited Penn State - the nation's fourth-highest scoring offense - to less than 12 goals in a game this season. In that game, the Stags held the nation's leading goal scorer (at the time) Mac O'Keefe to just one marker on nine shots. O'Keefe had netted five hat tricks en route to 29 total goals through seven games entering the meeting with the Stags.
Up Next
The Stags wrap up their three-game homestand and begin CAA play under the lights on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday, April 1 against No. 7 Hofstra. The Stags and Pride will faceoff at 7 p.m. live on FairfieldStags.TV.
