FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After scoring just one goal in the first 44:57 of Saturday's season opener on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium, Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse embarked on a furious rally that ultimately came up just short in an 8-7 loss to visiting Lehigh. The Stags were paced by hat tricks from Will Consoli and Jake Gilbert.
 
With the loss, the Stags start the 2024 campaign at 0-1. Lehigh evens its record at 1-1 following a 14-12 loss at #14/15 Rutgers to behind their campaign last weekend.
 
"I'll never question our fight or our effort. I think both of those things were evident today, especially in the second half," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter. "But Lehigh is a talented team, and it comes down to execution and details. So we are encouraged by a lot of things, and we have plenty of things to work on. We'll get back after it on Monday with another tough opponent coming up next weekend."
 
After nearly a full 15 minutes of scoreless lacrosse, Scott Cole lit the blistered the net with just 10 seconds to go in the opening period to put the Mountain Hawks on top, 1-0. ­­The Stags' lone first-half goal came from Gilbert on a Rob Moore assist just 30 seconds into the second quarter, evening the tally at 1-1 before Lehigh scored the next five to take a 6-1 lead into the locker room. The visitors were buoyed by Nick Pecora in the cage as the senior turned away seven of the eight shots he faced before the break.
 
The third frame marked another defensive battle, as neither team scored until the closing ticks once again. This time, it was Luke Okupski converting a Coleman feed to shrink the gap to 6-2 entering the final quarter.
 
Consoli struck first in the fourth quarter, but Lehigh quickly answered to run the tally to 7-3 in favor of the guests with 11:12 to play. The margin held for just over five minutes before Consoli got loose again and finished a connection from Bryce Ford with 6:10 left. Just over 70 seconds later, the Stags rang up the only extra-man tally of the day with Consoli facilitating and Gilbert scoring to make it a 7-5 contest.
 
Lehigh responded with a goal that appeared to be a dagger as Dakota Eierman struck with 2:05 left to increase the Mountain Hawks' advantage to 8-5. But Consoli completed his hat trick on the ensuing possession and, after earning a turnover, the Stags cut the margin to 8-7 with Gilbert getting the transition goal on an Eli Adams feed with 44 seconds to play.
 
Despite going man-down on the faceoff, the Stags earned a possession as Rory Thompson caused a turnover but could not find a clean look as time expired on the 8-7 final.
 
The defensive effort that held Lehigh to just eight goals included three caused turnovers apiece for Braden Lynch and Julian Radossich. Ford, Thompson and Danny Manning each added a pair. Radossich also nabbed three ground balls.
 
In the Fairfield cage, Will Snyder made seven saves to go along with three ground balls of his own.
 
Dylan Smith took every draw at the X, finishing 7-for-19 with four ground balls.
 
Lehigh was led by two goals apiece for Cole and Andrew Kelly. Pecora finished with 13 saves.
 
Up next, the Stags travel to North Bethesda, Md. for a neutral site game at Georgetown Prep against #17/18 North Carolina next Saturday, Feb. 17. Fairfield will also make the trip across town to challenge Sacred Heart on Wednesday, Feb. 21 before returning to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium to host Wagner on Saturday, Feb. 24. Admission for the noon contest is free for all fans.