FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action comes to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium for the first time in 2023 as Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse hosts Drexel on Saturday, April 1. Opening faceoff between the Stags and Dragons is slated for noon.
The contest is the first part of a Fairfield Lacrosse doubleheader that will also feature Fairfield Women's Lacrosse hosting Marist in MAAC action at 4 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
In a game featuring 25 saves and 45 turnovers combined between Fairfield and host Towson, it was the Tigers who scratched out an 11-7 CAA win last Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Bryce Ford led the Stags' attack with his second straight hat trick.
In addition to Ford's hat trick,
Max Paparozzi scored two goals with
Jack McKenna and reigning CAA Rookie of the Week
Will Consoli adding one apiece. Consoli also distributed two assists.
On close defense,
Braden Lynch scooped up five ground balls with the long pole,
Daniel Wilson had three ground balls and a caused turnover, and
Zack Antoniou had one of the Stags' 10 caused turnovers.
Matt Rice chipped in with the short stick, nabbing three grounders with a pair of caused turnovers.
Will Snyder made 10 saves in the cage.
Joaquin Villagomez (3g, 1a) and Mikey Weisshaar (2g, 2a) paced the attack for Towson, but the Tigers' victory was cemented outside of the attacking zone. Towson goalkeeper Evan Long made 15 saves in the cage and faceoff man Matt Constantinides went 14-for-22 at the X with nine ground balls to stake the Tigers to extra opportunities on offense.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Stags are one of two CAA teams (Stony Brook) to open the conference slate with back-to-back road games. Fairfield will now play three of its final five league contests within the familiar confines of Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium.
THE DREXEL UNIVERSITY DRAGONS
The Drexel Dragons are one of three teams to start the CAA schedule at 2-0, picking up an overtime win at Towson and, most recently, rolling to an 18-4 win over Hampton. In the non-conference season, Drexel defeated Lafayette, Sacred Heart and Saint Joseph's while falling to UMBC, Albany and Villanova.
Sean Donnelly leads the Drexel offense with 28 points, highlighted by a team-best 21 goals. Jack Mulcahy is the top facilitator with 11 assists to go along with 10 goals of his own.
Justin Joseph manages the faceoff X, where he holds a .526 winning percentage (103-196) with 52 ground balls and a goal.
In the cage, Ross Blumenthal has started all eight games on his way to an 11.82 goals-against average and a .523 save percentage with 81 saves and 74 goals allowed.
Drexel was 6-8 overall and 2-3 in the CAA last season. The Dragons held the tiebreaker over the Stags to qualify for the conference tournament as the #4 seed, where they fell to top seed and eventual champion Delaware, 19-6.
LAST MEETING
The sixth lead change in last season's CAA clash between Fairfield and host Drexel proved decisive as the defending CAA Champion Dragons outlasted the Stags, 19-18, in Philadelphia.
Taylor Strough matched his career high with six goals for the Stags.
In addition to Strough's six goals,
Mike Drake added a five-point day with two goals and three assists.
Max Paparozzi notched two goals and two helpers, and
Jack McKenna potted his seventh hat trick of the season.
The defensive effort was led by a strong showing from the man-down unit, which held Drexel scoreless on five opportunities.
Braden Lynch corralled four ground balls with a caused turnover on close defense.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Drexel leads 8-2 in an all-time series that began in 1993 when the Stags entered the varsity ranks. The clubs met annually for 1993-95 and revived the series when Fairfield joined the CAA beginning in the 2015 campaign.
UP NEXT
Another CAA road game is on deck for the Stags, who visit defending league champion Delaware on Saturday, April 8 at noon. The Blue Hens are 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the CAA entering a home meeting with Hampton this weekend.
