FAIRFIELD, Conn. – For the first time since 2016, Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse has clinched a berth in the CAA Championship. The Stags upended visiting Stony Brook, 11-10, on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday to lock up the third seed in the upcoming tournament. Jake Gilbert and Bryce Ford each netted a hat trick for the Stags to secure the win.
 
With the win, the Stags improve to 7-6 on the season and 4-2 in the CAA. In addition to the program's first postseason berth since 2016, Fairfield also clinched its first winning record in the conference since that campaign. Stony Brook slides to 4-9 on the year with a 2-4 league tally.
 
"This is a credit to the seniors and the fifth years for trusting in me and our staff and sticking with it and never losing faith. They've earned every second of the celebrating that's going on in our locker room right now," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter. "But having said, we've already talked about practice on Monday and getting better day-by-day, and that's what we'll do. We have Hampton next Saturday and then we're going to play a very talented team in Delaware or Towson in the tournament. I don't think we gave either of them our best in the regular season, so we'll keep trying to improve to give everything we've got at Hampton, and then we take our best shot at a nationally-ranked opponent in two weeks."
 
Jake Gilbert's five points all came on the Stags' first five goals as he finished with a hat trick and two assists. All four of Ford's points came after halftime, including the goal with 9:54 to go that staked Fairfield to its only lead of the game at 11-10.
 
Keegan Lynch, Will Consoli, Ryan Lancaster, Dean Ford and Luke Okupski all added single goals for the Stags. Fairfield got single assists from Lynch, Dean Ford, Jake Coleman, John Okupski and Julian Radossich.
 
The reigning CAA Rookie of the Week, Radossich also sparked the defensive effort with two caused turnovers and four ground balls. His two caused turnovers boosted his season total to 26 to set a new Fairfield single-season record.
 
The defense, which kept the Seawolves off the board for the final 14:05 of action and conceded only one goal over the last 23:22, also featured two caused turnovers apiece for Danny Manning and Eli Adams. Braden Lynch added three ground balls, as did Dean Ford and goalkeeper Owen Hirsch.
 
Hirsch finished at 50 percent for the game with 10 saves, including a stonewalling of CAA leading scorer Dylan Pallonetti in the final minute of action.
 
Dylan Smith wrapped up his day at the faceoff X at 12-for-24, also winning one back from the Seawolves with a caused turnover in the midfield.

Pallonetti and Jack Dougherty each had two goals and an assist for Stony Brook. Tommy Wilk protected the Stony Brook cage and made 13 saves.
 
Saturday's regular season finale at Hampton is slated for a noon start. The CAA Championship will be held at Towson's Johnny Unitas Stadium on May 2 and 4. More information will be announced as it is finalized at the close of action next weekend.