FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A stifling defensive effort fueled Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse in a 10-7 win over Lehigh on Friday evening on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium. Julian Radossich set a program record with seven caused turnovers to lead the defensive unit, while Devin Lampron scored four goals to pace the Stags' attack in his collegiate debut.
 
With the win, the Stags start the campaign at 1-0 for the first time since 2020. Lehigh, which was unranked but receiving votes in the national polls this week, slips to 0-2. The Mountain Hawks are the defending Patriot League Champions.
 
"We felt like if we could play at our pace, we could have success," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter. "I think we did that offensively, defensively and in the midfield for maybe 53 to 55 minutes today, and when we did, that was the brand of lacrosse that we want to see out of our guys."
 
Radossich, who is the reigning CAA Rookie of the Year and was an All-CAA First Teamer in 2024, made his first start on the close defense unit after playing all 15 games as a long-stick midfielder last spring. His program-record seven caused turnovers build on a freshman campaign in which he set the Fairfield's single-season mark with 27 caused turnovers.
 
"They changed up some things throughout the game, so Julian had to cover a couple of different guys," noted Baxter. "But we trusted him in a bunch of different matchups; he's worked very hard to put himself in that position."
 
The Fairfield defense pressured Lehigh into 26 turnovers on the day, which contributed to the Stags' 36-21 advantage in ground balls. Eli Adams (2 GB, 2 CT) and Nate Livingston (2 GB) start down low alongside Radossich, while Austin McClintic added two caused turnovers and a ground ball and Rory Thompson posted one caused turnover and collected four grounders as the starting LSM.  Matt Rice scooped up three ground balls and Andrew Kasten nabbed four patrolling the Stags' midfield.
 
Owen Hirsch made the start in the cage and finished with seven saves and three ground balls.
 
Offensively, Lampron's four goals included back-to-back markers in the second quarter as the Stags built a 4-1 lead. He also netted a pair in the four quarter as the Stags netted five tallies in the final frame to turn a 5-5 tie entering the period into a 10-7 final.
 
Lampron was the Stags' only multi-goal scorer as Keegan Lynch, Will Consoli, Jason LaMay Jr., John Okupski, Kasten and Adams each added one. Kasten and Adams' goals were the first of their respective Fairfield careers.
 
Lynch was the Stags' top facilitator with two assists to complete a three-point evening, and Rob Moore rounded out the attack with one helper.
 
Dylan Smith headed the effort at the faceoff X, finishing 11-for-19 with four ground balls. Daniel Davis took over for the last faceoff on the day, winning the draw and collecting the ground ball.
 
Lehigh was led by a hat trick for Dakota Eierman and two goals by Grant Rodny. All-America defenseman Richard Checo had three caused turnovers and three ground balls for the Mountain Hawks, and Kasey Heath made 14 saves protecting the visitors' cage.
 
Up next, the Stags make their first road trip of 2025 next Saturday, Feb. 15 for a 3:30 p.m. visit to Brown. The contest will be the Bears' season opener.
 
Action returns to Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 19 with a 7 p.m. meeting with crosstown Sacred Heart. Admission is free for all fans to all February home games this season.