FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Ten different players recorded a point and the defense conceded just five goals as Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse rolled past visiting Sacred Heart, 17-5, on Wednesday evening on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Will Consoli, Bryce Ford and Jack McKenna each posted five points in the Stags' home opener.
 
With the win, Fairfield improves to 2-1 on the season. The 17-5 final score marks both the largest margin of victory and fewest goals allowed by a Fairfield team since an 18-5 win at NJIT on March 19, 2019. The 12-goal differential was also the Stags' largest margin of victory ever on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium, which opened in 2015.  Sacred Heart drops to 0-3 with the loss.
 
"I wouldn't call it a complete game, but it's certainly as close as we've come to that so far," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter, who is 3-0 all-time against Sacred Heart. "We learned a lot from our first two games, and it was a good step to see our guys implement what we've been working on out on the field tonight."
 
The 10 Fairfield goal scorers were paced by Will Consoli, who netted four and dished out an assist for the most productive day of his young collegiate career. McKenna added a hat trick with two helpers, and Bryce Ford scored twice and distributed three assists.
 
Max Paparozzi also scored two goals and posted an assist, while the quartet of Jake Coleman, Kevin Dolan, Rob Moore and Reilly Sullivan each had a goal and an assist. Rounding out the onslaught, Jake Gilbert and Cam Barisano scored one goal apiece.
 
The points by Sullivan, Dolan and Barisano all marked the first of their respective Fairfield careers.
 
The Stags saw another strong debut on the opposite end of the field as Will Snyder got the start in goal and made nine saves to earn the victory. The defense in front of Snyder, including a tenacious ride that pressured Sacred Heart into nine failed clears, included four ground balls for Matt Rice, three ground balls by Zack Antoniou and two grounders and a caused turnover by Eli Adams, who made his first start on close defense. In total, Fairfield forced 20 Pioneers turnovers.
 
Keeping the Stags on the attack was Dylan Smith, going 16-for-22 at the faceoff X with eight ground balls. Ryan Hamburger added a pair of wins on his four attempts on the draw.

Sacred Heart was led by two goals from Johnny Morgan. Alex Pazienza did his part in the Pioneers' cage with 15 saves in defeat.
 
Fairfield is back on the road this Sunday, Feb. 26 for a 1 p.m. opening faceoff at Richmond. The Spiders are 1-1 on the season and will host perennial CAA contender Towson on Friday before welcoming the Stags to Robins Stadium.
 
The Stags will also travel to Providence on March 4 before their only back-to-back home games of the season with visits from Bryant on March 7 and Binghamton on March 11.