FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse claimed an early lead on Saturday but was unable to hold off visiting #18 UMass on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. The CAA-leading Minutemen outscored the Stags, 5-0, in the third quarter en route to taking an 11-4 decision on Senior Day.
 
Fairfield (4-10, 1-3 CAA) got goals from Jack Brennan, Taylor Strough, Dylan Beckwith and Joe Rodrigues. Brennan, Colin Burke and Brendan Quinn each posted an assist to round of the scoring. The Stags out the Minutemen but were unable to solve UMass goalkeeper Sean Sconone, who made 20 saves in the cage.
 
At the opposite end of the field, Sean McKee made 10 saves for the Stags and collected five ground balls. Seniors Spencer Noonan and J.B. Smith contributed defensively with two caused turnovers and three ground balls apiece. George Elmquist also recorded a pair of caused turnovers.
 
In the midfield, Will Fox went 6-for-12 on the draw, while Joe DeLasho and Bill McMenamin each picked up one win at the faceoff 'X'. The showing helped the Stags to a 27-22 advantage in ground balls. Drew Murray added three pickups, with Burke and Charlie Horning each scooping up two ground balls to keep Fairfield on the attack.
 
The Stags held a 2-0 lead after the first quarter on an early man-up goal from Brennan followed by Strough's tally with 1:46 to play in the frame. After UMass struck to open the second stanza, Beckwith converted an unassisted tally to put Fairfield in front, 3-1, at the 8:46 mark. After Buddy Carr's first of four goals on the day cut the lead in half, the Minutemen scored with just one second remaining to send the game into the locker room tied at 3-3.

The momentum from the late goal carried into the third frame as the Minutemen rattled off five in a row to extend their lead to 8-3 entering the final quarter. UMass added three more in the period, extending the run to 10-0 before Rodrigues' team-leading 28th goal of the year ended Fairfield's scoring drought and capped the final score at 11-4.
 
UMass (9-4, 4-0 CAA) earned its eighth-straight win and clinched the CAA Regular Season Championship with the victory. In addition to Carr's four goals and Sconone's heroics in the cage, the Minutemen benefitted from two goals and an assist by Devin Spencer.
 
The Stags will enter the final weekend of the regular season still in contention for a CAA postseason berth. Fairfield travels to Johnny Unitas Stadium to challenge Towson (5-7, 2-2 CAA) at 11 a.m. on the Lax Sports Network. Visit FairfieldStags.com for updates on the CAA playoff picture as they are finalized by the league office.