FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Faced with a 10-8 deficit with 10:19 to play in Saturday's Colonial Athletic Association opener, Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse scored the game's last four goals to knock off visiting Hofstra, 12-10, on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Mike Drake had a six-point day – including the game-winning goal – in the CAA triumph.
 
With the win, Fairfield improves to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the CAA. The Stags snap a 16-game conference losing streak that dates back to a 5-4 win at Hofstra in the 2018 campaign. Hofstra falls to 4-7 on the season with an 0-1 league mark.
 
"I'm so happy for our guys. We've been working incredibly hard mentally and physically since the fall and that hard work showed through today," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter, who earns his first CAA win as the leader of the Stags. "We'll enjoy this one right now, but then it's onto the next play – opening faceoff next Saturday at Drexel."
 
Drake's six points mark a career high for the graduate student transfer from Notre Dame, who finished with three goals and three assists. Kyle Borda added a three-point day with two goals and an assist, and the duo of Taylor Strough and Jack McKenna scored two goals apiece.
 
Early goals for Strough, McKenna and Max Paparozzi staked Fairfield to 3-2 lead, which proved to be their only advantage until Drake's game-winner with 1:21 to go. Hofstra, however, responded with back-to-back tallies to claim a 4-3 edge after the first quarter.
 
The back-and-forth scoring continued in the second frame. Strough and Frankie Labetti accounted for Fairfield's two goals in the period, but Hofstra scratched out three in the stanza to take a 7-5 lead into the half.
 
The Pride struck first out of the intermission to take an 8-5 lead, but that Dylan McIntosh goal was the only tally that the visitors would eke out in the quarter. The Fairfield attack took advantage of the defensive lockdown, starting a man-up goal for Drake assisted by Paparozzi. Borda added an unassisted tally and Drake sent one home in the final minute of the period to send the game into the fourth quarter knotted at 8-8.
 
Hofstra was once again the aggressor to open the period with goals for McIntosh and a "pole goal" off a turnover by Daniel Ochs to take a 10-8 advantage with 10:19 left. But again, the Fairfield defense set the tone to facilitate the comeback, as the Pride would not rattle the cage again in the contest.
 
Borda started the Stags on the comeback trail with an unassisted goal with 7:47 left to cut the deficit to 10-9. After more than five minutes of scoreless lacrosse, McKenna battled past a defensemen and wrapped up around the cage to net the equalizer with 2:37 remaining. Labetti came away with the ensuring faceoff and after coming up empty for more than a minute, Drake eluded three Hofstra defenders and fired home the go-ahead goal with 1:21 left.
 
"The shot clock was running down, and I just wanted to make a play" said Drake of his game-winner. "The guys have been encouraging me to get out there and make plays, and they trusted me and gave me space to work and try to make something happening."
 
 
Once again, Labetti won the draw the retain possession for the Stags. The Fairfield attack burned 45 seconds off the timer before Patrick Drake got free to dunk on an empty cage with 35 seconds to play. Labetti again won the draw and the Stags ran out the clock on the 12-10 victory.
 
"I didn't have a great second half, but my number was called on those last faceoffs and I just wanted to give it my all and do what it takes to help us get the win," said Labetti. The final three faceoffs pushed the graduate student's tally to 11-for-23 on the day with seven ground balls.
 
After allowing seven goals in the first 27 minutes of the game, the defensive unit ceded only three goals in the second half. Braden Lynch headed that effort on close defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers, and Matt Rice has three caused turnovers and four grounders as an SSDM.
 
"We challenged the defense to put forth a much better effort than what they were giving us," said Baxter. "I was happy with the way they responded as the game wore on. It was a very physical game and we were able to grind and slow down their offense."
 
In Hofstra's four possession after taking a 10-8 lead, the Pride committed two turnovers and managed only one shot on goal, which was saved by James Corasaniti, who made six stops in the winning effort.
 
Conference action continues for the Stags next Saturday, April 9 at defending CAA Champion Drexel at 1 p.m. The Dragons are 4-4 on the season entering their CAA opener later this afternoon against Towson.