OPENING FACEOFF
#15 Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse is on the road for the second straight week, this time heading to Towson to meet the reigning CAA Champion Tigers on Saturday, April 19. Opening faceoff from Johnny Unitas Stadium is set for noon.
LAST TIME OUT
After an even 7-7 first half in last Saturday's CAA game at Delaware, Fairfield doubled-up the host Blue Hens after the intermission to claim a 13-10 victory.
Will Consoli had a career-best seven points in the win, and
Owen Hirsch made a career-high 16 saves.
Consoli's seven points consisted of four goals and three assists as the junior went on to earn CAA Offensive Player of the Week laurels for his standout performance.
Luke Okupski added a hat trick for the Stags and
Keegan Lynch had a four-point afternoon with two goals and two assists.
Hirsch made 10 of his 16 saves in the second half, including two stops on the doorstep in the final stages of the fourth quarter. The senior goalkeeper also picked up two ground balls.
In addition to Hirsch's 16 saves, the Fairfield defense was led by two caused turnovers and three ground balls apiece from starting close defensemen
Nate Livingston and
Julian Radossich.
Long pole
Austin McClintic and SSDM
Andrew Kasten also had three groundballs apiece.
Fairfield was clipped, 15-12, on the restart with Smith leading the effort at 9-for-17 with five ground balls.
Brendan Powers had a five-point day for the hosts with three goals and two assists. Kevin Ellington made 12 saves in the Delaware cage.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series began when Fairfield joined the CAA in 2015, with Towson winning nine of 10 meetings. The Stags' one win was a 9-8 victory at Rafferty Stadium in the 2017 season, a year in which Towson eventually reached the Final Four.
The most notable meeting in the series is the historic 2016 CAA Championship Game, won by Towson at Johnny Unitas Stadium by a score of 4-2.
WITH A FAIRFIELD WIN
With a win, Fairfield would clinch a postseason berth and take control of first place in the CAA standings. The Stags then would be able to clinch the top seed in the CAA Championship with a win next Saturday against Monmouth.
The Stags would tie the 2012 and 2014 Fairfield teams with a program-record 12 victories.
WITH A TOWSON WIN
With a win, Towson would clinch the CAA Regular Season Championship and top seed in the CAA postseason.
Fairfield would need a win next Saturday against Monmouth to clinch the #2 seed in the CAA Championship.
The Stags can still clinch a postseason berth if Stony Brook loses at Drexel on Saturday.
CHART CLIMBERS
After improving to 11-1 this past Saturday, Fairfield has moved up in all three major national polls. The Stags have been nationally ranked for eight consecutive weeks.
Fairfield moved up one spot in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll to #15 and jumped two places to #15 in the USILA Coaches' Poll. The Stags also rose four slots to #14 in the USA Lacrosse Top 20.
WHERE THERE'S A WILL...
After leading the offense in a key victory on Saturday at Delaware,
Will Consoli has been named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week. Consoli racked up seven points against the Blue Hens, scoring a game-high four goals and dished out three assists to amass a career-best seven points. His output included the go-ahead goal in the third quarter that snapped a 7-7 tie and staked Fairfield to a lead that it would not relinquish.
UP NEXT
Fairfield wraps up the regular season at Rafferty Stadium on Saturday, April 26 with a noon faceoff against Monmouth.
