TOWSON, Md. – #16/18 Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse was on the short side of 14-6 loss to Drexel on Thursday evening in the Coastal Athletic Association Semifinals. Jake Gilbert and Luke Okupski each posted a goal and an assist for the Stags at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
 
"I give a ton of credit to Drexel. They didn't do anything unexpected, but they executed at a higher level than we did," said Head Coach Andrew Baxter. "I think we learned a lot this season, and we'll take all of the ups and downs and use them to keep improving as a program."
 
With the loss, the Stags finish the campaign at 12-3. Fairfield tied the program record for wins in a season – established in 2012 and matched in 2014. The Stags were also 8-0 at home, and earned a national ranking in 10 consecutive weeks.
 
In addition to the two points apiece for Gilbert and Okupski, Fairfield got one goal each from Will Consoli, Devin Lampron, Keegan Lynch and Charlie McFadden. Jake Savarese added an assist in his collegiate finale.
 
Fairfield held a 14-10 advantage on the faceoff, led by Daniel Davis and 10-for-16 with three ground ball. Dylan Smith posted a 4-for-7 mark with five ground balls, eclipsing the 200 grounder mark in his career.
 
On the defensive end, short-stick Matt Rice had two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Julian Radossich picked up one caused turnover to round of his Fairfield single-season total at 42. He also picked up five ground balls.
 
The Stags started in an early hole as Drexel netted the game's first three goals before Fairfield got on the board courtesy of a Luke Okupski stepdown and score. The Dragons added two more, then Will Consoli ended the first-quarter scoring with a dodge and fire that cut the deficit to 5-2.
 
Keegan Lynch opened the second-quarter scoring with an unassisted take to trim the margin further at 5-3, but Fairfield was held off the board for the final 12:25 of the half as Drexel added three more in the stanza to send the Stags into the locker room trailing, 8-3.
 
The scoring drought continued for the entirety of the third quarter, with Drexel notching four more to open up a 12-3 lead.
 
The Stags needed just 30 seconds in the fourth quarter to snap the skid as Owen Hirsch made a stop and got Fairfield off and running. The ball found the crosse of Jake Gilbert, who made a move on the doorstep and finished.  The Stags got two more from Lampron – his team-leading 30th – and Charlie McFadden, as Drexel also netted a pair in the fourth to close out the 14-6 final.
 
Drexel was led by five goals and an assist from Witt Crawford. Conor Hooley and Max Semple each netted a hat trick for the Dragons. Brendan Donnelly made 13 saves in the cage. The Dragons advance to play host Towson in Saturday's CAA Championship Game.