FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse looks to carry the momentum of its first win of 2021 into CAA play when the Stags travel to UMass this Sunday for a 1 p.m. clash with the Minutemen. Fairfield is 1-2 after Wednesday's victory over Lafayette, while UMass will be opening its 2021 campaign on Sunday at Garber Field.
Fairfield's 13-11 win over the Leopards at Rafferty Stadium marked a return to form on both ends of the field. Offensively, the Stags netted 13 goals after being held below a dozen markers for the first time under Head Coach
Andrew Baxter in the 17-9 loss to Delaware. On the defensive end, Fairfield's 11 goals allowed to Lafayette also matched the squad's best performance in 10 games with Baxter at the helm.
With four goals and two assists against Lafayette,
Dylan Beckwith ran his point streak to 32 straight games. The streak, which began nearly three years ago on St. Patrick's Day of 2018, has consisted for 65 goals and 69 assists. Beckwith's pair of helpers on Wenesday were the 88th and 89th of his career, surpassing Colin McLinden '15 to move into sole possession of third place on the Stags' all-time ledger. He is also fourth all-time on Fairfield's career points list with 175.
Fellow attackman
Matt Chlastawa has been off to a strong start to his Fairfield career. The graduate student and Division III All-American from Bates College has posted three points in each of his first three games as a Stag. With nine points thus far in 2021 to add to his program record 284 at Bates, Chlastawa is seven points shy of reaching 300 in his collegiate career.
Frankie Labetti also continued to move up the charts following his performance against the Leopards. Labetti went 16-for-23 in the faceoff circle with 12 ground balls. With his day at the X, Labetti moved past TJ Neubauer '16 for fourth place all-time at Fairfield with 173 career ground balls. He also took over fifth place in career faceoff wins, running his total to 269 to surpass Matt Donahue '02.
The UMass Minutemen will take the field on Sunday following a 368-day drought. The Minutement were scheduled to challenge UMass Lowell, Boston U., Hofstra and Albany earlier this season, but those games were all canceled due to Covid-19 protocols. UMass went 5-2 in the abbreviated 2020 season and posted a 10-5 mark in its last complete season in the spring of 2019.
Despite being idle thus far in 2021, UMass has maintained a pair of national rankings at #17 in the USILA Coaches' Poll and #16 in the
Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. Fairfield owns 20 victories over nationally-ranked opponents since 2002, most recently knocking off #15 Towson during the 2017 campaign. The Stags last victory on the road over a ranked foe was the landmark upset of #1 Denver in 2013.
Following this Sunday's game, Fairfield completes the non-conference slate back on Conway Field at Rafferty on Wednesday, March 17 with a visit from crosstown foe Sacred Heart. Opening faceoff with the Pioneers is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Lax Sports Network.
