FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse makes its 2023 debut on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium with a Wednesday, Feb. 22 visit from Sacred Heart. Opening faceoff under the lights is slated for 7 p.m. with J.J. Duke calling the action for the Stags Sports Network and Lacrosse TV.
LAST TIME OUT
A 6-0 run over 21 minutes in the second half was the catalyst to lead Fairfield past host Wagner, 14-7, on Saturday on Staten Island.
Bryce Ford scored five goals – all after the intermission – to pace the offense as the Stags picked up their first win of the young 2023 season.
With the win, Fairfield evens its record at 1-1. Wagner drops to 0-1 after opening their spring campaign this afternoon.
In addition to five goals for Ford,
Josh Demko and
Max Paparozzi posted identical statlines of two goals and an assist.
Will Consoli and
Rob Moore each posted one goal and one helper, with
Jake Gilbert,
Jack McKenna and defenseman
Braden Lynch adding one tally apiece.
Defensively,
Colin Consoli made eight saves to fortify the back line, with
Matt Rice and
Eli Adams each collecting four ground balls.
Dylan Smith took all 24 faceoffs for Fairfield and came away with 14 wins, including four ground balls of his own.
CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After anchoring the defensive effort and scoring a goal on Saturday at Wagner,
Braden Lynch has been named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week. Lynch notched two ground balls and a caused turnover as a part of the 14-7 victory.
An All-CAA Second Team pick in 2022 and a Preseason All-CAA selection this season, Lynch's pole goal was his first career point on his first-ever shot attempt as a Stag.
STOPPED AT SEVEN
The seven goals allowed by the Fairfield defense on Saturday at Wagner marked a team-best during the
Andrew Baxter era. The last time the Stags ceded seven or fewer goals came on March 5, 2019 in an 18-5 victory at NJIT.
THE SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY PIONEERS
Sacred Heart is 0-2 on the season with road losses at Saint Joseph's (now #12 in the nation) and Lafayette. The Pioneers were 3-10 last season with a 1-6 NEC record. Sacred Heart is now an associate member of the MAAC for the 2023 season, where they were tabbed for eighth of 10 teams in the preseason coaches' poll.
Jake Ward leads the Pioneers with four goals, while Sal Miccio and Carson Spooner have each added three goals and an assist. Nicky Casano (11-35) and Connor Callihan (10-18) have shared the effort at the faceoff X.
Alex Pazienza has started both games in the cage, posting a .407 save percentage with 22 saves and 32 goals allowed. Nicky LaBanca has faced and stopped one shot in relief.
LAST MEETING
Trailing 16-14 with 6:52 to play on March 1, 2022 at Sacred Heart, Fairfield scored the game's final five goals in a span of just over three minutes to power past the hosts for a 19-16 triumph.
Taylor Strough scored five goals in the win, including the marker that stood up as the game-winner.
Fairfield rallied to the tie the score on six occasions before taking the lead that they would not relinquish with 4:28 remaining. Three of Strough's five goals came in a fourth quarter that saw the Stags outscore Sacred Heart by a 7-2 count.
Kyle Borda and
Jack McKenna also netted hat tricks for the Stags, finishing with four and three goals, respectively.
Bryce Ford had a five-point day with one goal and a career-best four assists working from behind the cage.
Colin Consoli started in the cage and made four saves.
James Corasaniti took over in the second half and picked up 13 stops with six goals allowed as Fairfield turned a 10-8 halftime deficit into a 19-16 victory.
Keeping the Stags on the attack was
Frankie Labetti who, in addition to a goal and assist of his own, went 19-for-28 at the faceoff X with 10 ground balls.
Ryan Hamburger pitched in a 5-for-10 day on the draw.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Last season's 19-16 for the Stags at SHU ran the series to 4-2 in favor of Fairfield. Fairfield has won the last three encounters including the only prior meeting at Rafferty Stadium in 2021.
UP NEXT
The Stags are back on the road this Sunday, Feb. 26 for a clash at Richmond. Fairfield then visits Providence on Saturday, March 4, before returning to Rafferty Stadium for back-to-back home outings against Bryant (March 7) and Binghamton (March 11).
