PROVIDENCE – After netting the first goal of Saturday afternoon's game at Providence, Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse conceded the next five markers to the host Friars. Despite keeping pace for much of the remainder of the wintery tilt at Anderson Stadium, the Stags never overcame the early deficit as Providence pulled away late to take a 17-10 decision. Max Paparozzi and Jack McKenna each netted a hat trick for the Stags.
 
With the loss, Fairfield slips to 2-3. Providence evens its record at 3-3 – 3-0 at home and 0-3 on the road.
 
In addition to the three goals apiece for Paparozzi and McKenna, Rob Moore racked up three points with a goal and two assists. Bryce Ford and Will Consoli each added a goal and a helper, and Shane Osborne bounced home a goal to round out the Fairfield scoring.
 
Will Snyder was just below 50% for the game, making a career-high 16 stops in the Fairfield cage. Eli Adams got the start on close defense and nabbed three ground balls.
 
Dylan Smith led the Stags to a positive margin at the X, posting a 15-for-29 mark supplemented by a 1-for-2 showing by Ryan Hamburger in relief.
 
After a Snyder save off the opening faceoff, the Stags struck on their opening possession as Paparozzi finished a feed from Moore to put Fairfield on top, 1-0, just 53 seconds into the contest. However, the Stags would not score again for nearly 16 minutes as the Friars ran off five straight in the first quarter and then took a 6-1 lead with the opening strike of the second period. Back-to-back markers for McKenna and Osborne trimmed the margin to a more manageable 6-3 count, but Providence responded with two in row of their own. The Stags would finish the half strong, netting three of the last four tallies on goals from Consoli, Ford and Moore to head into the locker room facing a 9-6 deficit.
 
Just as he did in the first half, Paparozzi struck quickly to start the third quarter with a goal on the opening possession to cut the Providence lead to 9-7 just 38 seconds into the stanza. But the Friars had another answer with back-to-back goals. McKenna added a third quarter tally, but Providence again responded with two in a row to carry a 13-8 advantage into the fourth quarter.
 
In the final period, Paparozzi and McKenna each completed their hat tricks, but the Friars answered each time and then tacked on a pair of late insurance tallies to round out the 17-10 final score.
 
Michael Chabra led Provdence with four goals, while Richie Joseph added a hat trick and the duo of Ryan Bell and Jack Horrigan each had two goals and two assists. James Corasaniti – a former Stag who joined the Friars for his graduate season – made five saves in the cage.
 
Up next, the Stags will play back-to-back home games for the first and only time this season beginning Tuesday, March 7 with a 7 p.m. visit from Bryant. The Bulldogs hosted and defeated Manhattan, 15-12, this afternoon to improve to 3-1.
 
The homestand also includes a Saturday, March 11 contest against Binghamton. Tickets for both games on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.