FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A seven-goal third quarter outburst for visiting Hartford proved decisive as Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse was on the short side of a 16-11 decision on Tuesday afternoon on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Dylan Beckwith led the Stags' attack with four goals and two assists.
 
Beckwith, who set new career highs in both goals and total points, was one of three players with at least three goals for Fairfield (1-3). Joe Rodrigues netted three markers to extend his team lead to nine goals on the season, while Charlie Curran rang up the first hat trick of his career. Beckwith and Rodrigues now share the team lead with 11 points apiece.
 
After today's efforts, Rodrigues has put together a nine-game goal scoring streak dating back to last spring – a run that includes seven multi-goal games. Beckwith owns the team-best active point-scoring streak with a goal or assist in 15 consecutive outings.
 
Also rattling the cage today was Brendan Quinn, who also dished out a pair of assists. Colin Burke, Travis Ford and Taylor Strough round out the attack with one assist apiece.
 
The matchup at the faceoff X featured Will Fox squaring off with Hartford All-American Dylan Protesto. Fox went 11-for-18 against Protesto, who entered the day ranked third in the nation in win percentage on the draw, and finished at 18-for-31 overall with a team-best 11 ground balls.
 
Fox's performance led the Stags to a 37-27 overall lead in ground balls. Samuel Murphy and Spencer Noonan each had three pick-ups in the midfield, and Curran scooped up three to keep possession alive in the attacking end.
 
Sean McKee started in goal and made 11 saves in addition to three ground balls and a caused turnover. Sam Gindhart completed the day in the cage with a pair of second-half saves.
 
Hartford's (1-2) Alex Smith led all players with five goals, while Justin Huggins potted four for the Hawks. Ryan Vanderford earned the win in goal with 10 saves.
 
The Stags held a 52-29 lead in shots – Fairfield's most since sending 55 attempts at Providence on Feb. 21, 2004 – and committed 12 turnovers to Hartford's 13 giveaways. Fairfield was 12-for-13 on the clear, while the Hawks posted a 15-for-19 mark on clearing attempts.
 
After nearly five scoring minutes of action, the Stags capitalized on an extra-man opportunity as Rodrigues finished a pass from Burke to net the game's first goal. Just 47 seconds later, Beckwith found the back of the cage for the first time to put Fairfield on top, 2-0. The squads traded goals for the remainder of the quarter – Curran and Quinn accounted for the two Fairfield scores in that span – as the first 15 minutes expired with the hosts on top, 4-2.
 
Goals from Beckwith and Curran sandwiched around a Smith marker for Hartford extended the Fairfield cushion to 6-3 midway through the second stanza. However, the next three tallies went to the Hawks to stalemate the game once again at 6-6. Fairfield struck once more in the frame as Curran completed his hat trick off a Beckwith pass to send the Stags into the locker room holding a 7-6 advantage.
 
Hartford started the third quarter with the run that staked them to a lead they would not relinquish. The Hawks scored the period's first five goals, winning 4-of-5 faceoffs and forcing two turnovers during that span en route to an 11-7 advantage at the 8:45 mark of the third. The Stags ended the run with a Rodrigues goal, but Hartford answered in short order. Rodrigues would respond with his third of the day, but the Hawks finished the frame with a Smith goal with just three ticks to go, ending the stanza with a 13-9 lead.
 
Hartford kept the pressure on the Stags with the first three goals of the fourth frame as well. Beckwith added two markers as Fairfield looked to rally late, but time ultimately ran out on a 16-11 final.
 
Today's game was the first of a six-game homestand for the Stags. The Stags continue their Rafferty Stadium residency on Saturday, March 3 for a 1 p.m. visit from Stony Brook. Tickets are on sale at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.