FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse scored the first five goals of the fourth quarter on Tuesday against Bryant, cutting a 12-6 deficit to 12-11 with just over eight minutes to go on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. However, the Bulldogs made the game's final run with back-to-back markers and withstood a late flurry to come away with a 14-12 decision. Six different Stags scored two goals apiece to account for the Fairfield scoring.
 
"It was a solid effort today, just not a full 60 minutes. We made some mistakes – particularly unforced errors – and those will always catch up with you against a good opponent," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter.
 
The Fairfield goals came courtesy of Will Consoli, Bryce Ford, Rob Moore, Max Paparozzi, Jack McKenna and Jake Coleman – all with two apiece. Consoli, Ford, Moore and Luke Okupski each added an assist to round out the scoring.
 
The Stags were just under 50 percent on the draw, led by an 11-for-22 showing with eight ground balls for Tim Lucky. Ryan Hamburger added a pair of wins and Dylan Smith nabbed one to complete a 14-for-30 evening at the faceoff X.
 
On the defensive end of the field, Daniel Wilson registered three ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Zack Antoniou had two grounders and caused two Bryant miscues. Will Snyder made seven saves in the Fairfield cage.
 
After a Ryan Dobrzynski goal for Bryant to start the scoring, Paparozzi cashed in on a man-up chance to knot the game at 1-1. However, that EMO marker was Fairfield's only goal in the opening quarter as Bryant took a 4-1 lead after the first period. The Bulldogs also struck first in the second stanza to make it a 5-1 advantage before the Stags started out on the their first run of the day.
 
The rally started with two goals in just 12 seconds as Ford and Paparozzi each connected to cut the margin to 5-3. Coleman added his first and Consoli followed the tie the game with 5:19 to go in the half. The Stags then claimed their first lead off the ensuing faceoff.  Lucky won the draw and had the ball checked from his stick, but the carom went to Coleman in front, who collected it and put it home to put Fairfield on top, 6-5. Bryant, however, swung the momentum before the half with three straight goals, including a finish from Kevin Groeninger with just 10.5 seconds on the clock, to take an 8-6 advantage into the locker room.
 
The run was seven goals in total for the visitors, as the Bulldogs scored four goals in the third quarter – while hosting the Stags scoreless – to extend their lead to 12-6 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Fairfield got the early strike it needed to open the fourth quarter on a McKenna goal just 49 seconds into the frame. Consoli then finished a pass from Moore, and then Moore created his own opportunity as the margin was cut in half at 12-9 less with 12:39 still to play in the final frame.
 
After more than three minutes of scoreless lacrosse, Ford carried the ball from X and converted a wrap-around goal to trim the deficit 12-10, then McKenna scored on an individual effort to complete the run and bring the Stags with a goal at 12-11 with 8:11 to play. All told, Fairfield netted five in a row in a span of six minutes while keeping Bryant off the board for a stretch of 8:53. However, the Bulldogs ended their drought just 41 seconds after McKenna's goal and then took advantage of their first man-up chance of the day to rebuild a 14-11 lead with 4:27 remaining.
 
The Stags would strike again on a Moore goal with 2:08 to go, but despite regaining possession on a Ryan Lancaster caused turnover, Fairfield was unable to draw closer as time expired on a 14-12 final.
 
Bryant's Jack Lonsinger led all players with four goals and five total points. Aidan Goltz added two goals and an assist for the Bulldogs. Teagan Alexander earned the win in the cage with 13 saves.
 
The Stags will be back in action on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday, March 11 for a 1 p.m. visit from Binghamton. The Bearcats are 3-2 overall after a loss this evening at Lehigh.
 
Tickets are on sale now at FairfieldStags.com/TIX.