Friends of Fairfield Athletics

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse- The Fairfield Lacrosse Stags will have its final home game for the 2013 season on Saturday April 13th following the Women’s Game against  Canisius . Game time should be around 2:00 PM. Lessing Field will be the site of both games.  Air Force, an ECAC Lacrosse League member, will be the Stags opponent on Saturday.  This will be Senior Day for the Senior Class of 2013 players on the team. Prior to the game, there will be a on the field ceremony honoring the five seniors on the team.  Honored will be Sam Snow, Gordie Wells, Matt Rubetone, Dan Niebler, and Marshall Johnson.  The Stags current record is 6-5 overall and 2-2 in the ECAC.  The Air Force Falcons sport a 6-5  overall record and 1-3 in the ECAC.

The Air Force Falcons are an improved team this season.  They started the season playing #4 ranked North Carolina on the road and lost 16-8. Staying on the road, the Falcons beat High Point by 14-4 margin.  Air Force went to Piscataway, NJ to take on Rutgers and beat the Scarlett Knights by 11-9 score.  The Falcons returned home to Colorado and opened their “home” season by playing two games in Denver and the third game on their campus.  The first “home” game  in Denver was against Canisius.  The Falcons won by a 10-8 mark. The next “home” game in Denver was against #12 ranked Lehigh.  The Falcons were upset winners by a 15-10 margin.  Marquette in its first year as a D1 program played the first of the home game on the Air Force campus and the Falcons lost the game by a 8-6 score.  Air Force played is first ECAC game of the 2013 season against Bellarmine in Lousville, KY.  Bellarmine won the game by a 11-10 score.  Loyola, Air Force’s next ECAC foe, traveled to Denver and beat the Falcons by a 13-7 mark.  Air Force “traveled” to Denver and lost their neighboring ECAC opponents by a 11-10 OT score.  The newest ECAC member Michigan hosted the Falcons two weeks ago.  Air Force won its only ECAC game this year by a 10-6 margin.  The Falcons next traveled to Mercer College in Macon, GA last Saturday and won the game 15-9.  Junior Mike Compton was named the Co-Offensive Player of the Week based on his 11 point game.  He had three goals and eight assists in the game.  It was Compton’s third hat trick game in row.  Air Force jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in the second quarter.  Mercer scored the next two goals to cut the lead in half to a 4-2 score.  The Falcons scored two of the three next goals to have a 6-3 lead at halftime.  Air Force scored the first two goals of the second half to push the lead to 8-3 in the first five minutes.  The Falcons lead by as much as 6 goals in the third quarter with a 11-6 lead at the end of the period.  In the final quarter, the Falcons scored three man up goals and closed out the game with a 15-8 final score.

When doing my research, I could not get the most up to date stats for Air Force.  All stats here are as of March 30th and do not include the Mercer game. Air Force has scored 101 goals this season after taking 414 shots for 9.18 goals per game average and a .244 shot percentage.  The opponents have scored 96 goals with 350 shots being taken for a 8.72 goals per game average with a .274 shot percentage.  Air  Force is taking 37.63 shots per game and their opposition has taken 31.81 shots per game.  The Falcons have scored on 10 man up goals out of 32 chances for a .312 conversion rate.  Their man down defense has allowed only seven goals out of 27 chances holding the opponents to a .259 conversion rate.  The Air Force stats do not have the number of goals scored via the assist and unassisted.

The Falcons have gotten to 298 ground balls while their opponents have gotten to 304.  Air Force has had 153 turnovers with 80 caused turnovers and the opponents have made 151 turnover while their defense has caused 83 turnovers.  As a team, Air Force has won 117 face offs out of 231 chances for a .506 winning percentage.  The opponents have 114 wins out of the 231 chances with a .496 winning percentage.  On the clear, the Falcons have a .852 success percentage and their opponents have cleared the ball with a .875 success percentage.

Air Force loves the third quarter.  They have scored 32 goals in the third quarter.  The fourth quarter has seen the Falcons hit the back of the net 24 times and 23 times in the second period.  Air Force’s first quarter is the lowest scoring period with 22 goals. The opponents best scoring period is also the third period with 28 goals.  The fourth quarter has seen the opposition score 24 times and 22 times in the second quarter.  The opponents have scored 22 times in the first quarter.

Leading the Falcons in scoring is Mike Crampton who had 27 goals and 15 assists for 41 points this year (I added the Mercer game stats only for Crampton). Tommy McKee has scored 24 goals and has 3 assists for 27 points.  Keith Dreyer has 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points while Eric Smith has 21 points with 14 goals and 7 assists.  Christopher Allen has 15 points with 10 goals and 5 assists and the other double digit scorer is Kyle Cassady nine goals and two assists for 11 points.  Austin Fox has been in the goal for the majority of the year.  He has played 562 minutes with 91 goals being scored against him for a 9.70 goals against average.  He has a .531 save percentage and has faced 332 shots.  Doug Gouchoe has played a little more than a half this year with 36 minutes being played in the cage.  Five goals have been scored against him and he has a 8.29 goals against average.  He has faced 16 shots this year and a .444 save percentage.

Fairfield has scored 99 goals this year after taking 3480 shot attempts for a 9.00 goals per game average and a .261 shot percentage.  Their opponents have scored 104 goals with the opposition has taken 390 shot attempts for a 9.45 goals per game average and a.267 shot percentage. Fairfield has taken 34.5 shots per game and the opponents are averaging 35.5 shots per game.  The Stags have gotten 46 goals via an assist and 53 unassisted goals while the opponents have 49 goals via the assist and 55  unassisted goals.  Fairfield have converted 14 extra man goals this season going 14-51 this season for .275 conversion rate while the opponents have scored 10 goals in 33 attempts for a .303 conversion rate.

Fairfield has gotten to 354 ground balls and the opponents have scooped up 351 ground balls.  The Stags have turned the ball over 164 times this year while the opponents are turning the ball over 163 times.  Fairfield’s defense has caused 76 turnovers this season and the opponents have caused the Stags to turn the ball over 99 times.  In the face off circle, Fairfield has won 107 of 236 attempts for a .453 winning percentage and the opponents have been successful 129 times out of 236 chances for a .547  winning percentage.  The Stags have been successful on .853 percentage  of their clears and the opposition has cleared the ball with a .862 percentage. Fairfield has been penalized 37 times this season and the opponents have been flagged 51 times.

The opening stanza has seen Fairfield score 28 times in the 2013 campaign.  The fourth period has been the second most productive period with the Stags hitting the back of the net 27 times and the second period has the Stags scoring 24 times. Fairfield’s least productive period had been the third period with 21 goals being scored.  The opponents best scoring period is the final quarter with 28 goals.  Opponents have scored 26 times in  the second quarter and  the third quarter.  The opponents have scored just 24 times in the first period.  One OT goal was scored on the Falcons.

Leading the Stags in scoring are Jordan Greenfield with 23 goals and 7 assists for 30 points and Sam Snow is second on the team with 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points.  Tristian Sperry now has 18 points with 15 goals and three assists. Super Soph Colin McLinden has nine goals and nine assists for 18 points.   Nick Guida,  Super Frosh TJ Neubauer,  Eric Warden all have eleven points. Guida has seven goals and four assists,  Neubauer has nine goals and two assists and  Warden has seven goals and four assists for nine points.  Drew Federico and Marshall Johnson have seven points. They both have  scored four goals and three assists.  Jack Murphy has played all 660 minutes in goal this year. He has allowed 104 goals for a 9.45 goals against average and getting 123 saves for a .542 save percentage.  Murphy has faced 390 shots so far in this season.

What to expect: To me it is very simple.  The Stags have to run the table to make the ECAC Lacrosse League playoffs.  Tough task with Denver and Ohio State being on the road.  Air Force has improved this year.  Do not let the 1-3 league record think they will be a soft touch.  Took Denver to OT.  Lost to Bellarmine by one goal.  Beat ranked Lehigh. You know they would love to come East and knock the Stags out the ECAC Playoffs.  Got to think that the seniors want to win their last home game.  Think this will be another typical Fairfield close to the vest game.  Will not predict a final score but I think the Stags will still be in ECAC Playoff race at the end of the day.  GO STAGS!! Roger Yergeau ’73

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-The Loyola Greyhounds used a 5 goal run in the first period to spark a 5-1 lead that the Fairfield Stags could not cover on the Greyhounds way to a 13-7 final score.  The game was played in Baltimore, MD on Loyola’s campus in a 54 degree sunny afternoon before a crowd of 2,100 plus fans.

The Stags’ Junior FOGO Michael Roe faced Loyola’s Brendon Donovan in the opening face off circle.  Roe wins the initial face off and his wing Senior Co-Captain Midfielder Marshall Johnson getting to the ground ball.  The Stags work their offense and at 13:52 Sophomore Attack Tristian Sperry make the first shot of the day that is saved by Loyola’s Goal Keeper Jack Runkel makes the save.  The Greyhounds’ Joe Fletcher gets the ground ball and starts a good clear for Loyola.  After a minute of working their offense, Davis Butts for Loyola takes a shot that Junior Goal Keeper Jack Murphy saves.  Murphy starts the clear.  Stags offense probes the Greyhounds defense and after one minute they open up.  First Senior Co-Captain Midfielder Sam Snow shoots wide and the Stags back up.  Sperry takes another shot and his shot goes wide.  Again the Stags retain the ball.  Johnson gets the ball and at 10:32 he scores unassisted to give Fairfield a 1-0 lead.  Roe and Donovan square off at the X and Donovan wins with his wing Kyle Duffy getting the ground ball.  The Greyhounds are patient and at 9:15 Patrick Fanshaw takes a shot that Murphy saves.  A 30 second pushing penalty is called on Sophomore D Middie Bryan Barry and the Greyhounds send their extra man unit out on the field.  Loyola’s Mike Sawyer takes a wide shot and they retain the ball.  With the penalty almost over, Loyola’s Kevin Ryan scores a man up goal and ties the game at 1-1 with 8:44 showing on the clock.  Harry Kutner gets credit for the assist on the goal.  Donovan beats Roe on the second straight face off and wing Donovan gets the ground ball.  He passes the ball to Scott Ratliff who runs down the field and scores unassisted with only 9 seconds coming off the clock for a 2-1 lead for Loyola to continue on its five goal run.  Roe takes Donovan this time on the face off and Johnson gets the ground ball.  The Stags offense works hard but the Greyhounds have a caused turnover but Loyola turns the ball over right away.  Super Frosh Middie TJ Neubauer gets the ground ball and starts a good clear for Fairfield.  The Stags work the ball for 30 seconds but turn the ball over back to Loyola who clears.  The Greyhounds’ Nikko Pontrello takes a wide shot and they back up the shot.  With 6:27 on the clock, Chris Layne scores an unassisted goal to push the lead to 3-1.  Coach Copelan takes a time out to break the Loyola momentum.  Donovan now beats Roe in the face off circle and Donovan gets the ground ball.  Butts takes a wide shot and then Sean O’Sullivan hits a post and the Stags get the ball.  With 4:40 left in the first period, Johnson takes a wide shot and Snow gets the loose ground ball.  Snow takes a shot that goes wide.  Loyola is closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds Their clear is good and the Greyhounds work the ball around the wheel.  Justin Ward gets a pass and scores unassisted at 3:11 to give Loyola a 4-1 lead.  Roe beats Donovan and he gets the ground ball.  Fairfield works the ball but the Greyhounds create a caused turnover and Runkel picks up the ground ball and starts the clear.  Working the ball quickly down the field, Ward again gets the ball and scores his second unassisted goal in a row for a 5-1 Loyola lead with 2:12 left in the period. Roe gets the best of Donovan and Barry playing the wing gets the loose ground ball.  Fairfield takes it time on offense and Sophomore Attack Nick Guida gets a loose ground ball to keep the Stags on the attack.  He passes to Sophomore Midfield Drew Federico who scores unassisted with 40 seconds left in the period to cut the Greyhounds lead to 5-2.  Loyola gets the face off when the officials call a violation on Roe.  The Greyhounds strike quickly with Pontrello hitting Ratliff with a pass who puts it home. Loyola leads 6-2 with 23 seconds left in the first period.  Roe wins the face off beating Donovan and Roe gets the ground ball.  The period ends before the Stags can get a shot with Loyola having a 6-2 lead after one period.

The second period starts and Roe wins both the face off and the ground ball.  He starts the Fairfield attack and after trying to find a weak spot in the Greyhound defense, Super Soph Middie Colin McLinden takes a shot that goes high.  Junior Attack Jordan Greenfield gets the ground ball and the Stags remain on offense.  With 13:15 on the clock, Junior Middie Eric Warden shot flies over the cage.  Loyola gets the ball and makes a successful clear.  The Greyhounds’ Butts sends a shot wide with Loyola retaining the ball. At 12:09, O’Sullivan dodges and scores unassisted to make the score 7-2 in Loyola’s favor.  The Greyhounds send out a new face off man to take on Roe, Blake Burkhart.  Burkhart wins the first battle and his wing Ratliff gets the ground ball.  Thirty seconds in the Loyola attack, Patrick Fenshaw shoots and Murphy makes the save.  Johnson gets the rebound ground ball and starts the clear.  Warden takes a shot at 9:40 and beats Runkel.  Warden’s goal is unassisted and cuts the Loyola lead to 7-3.  Burkhart again beats Roe on the face off and Josh Logan playing the wing picks up the ground ball.  Ratliff scores unassisted to give Loyola a 8-3 lead with 9:12 remaining in the first half.  Coach Copelan sends out Sophomore FOGO Lou DiGiacomo to take on Burkhart at the X.  DiGiacomo wins his first draw with Johnson on the wing getting the ground ball.  The Stags offense knows they have to score.  First Snow takes a shot that is blocked and then 30 seconds later Federico’s shot is also blocked.  In the subsequent play, Loyola gets possession and the officials can now assess a 30 second holding penalty on Reid Acton to give Fairfield an extra man opportunity. First Sophomore Attack Nick Guida takes a high shot and then with both teamsare at even strength.  Fairfield retains the ball. Next Greenfield takes a shot that is blocked.  McLinden gets to the ground ball and at 6:17 remaining in the period the officials call a 30 shot clock warning on the Stags.  At the 6:00 minute mark, Greenfield’s shot goes wide and Sperry gets the ground ball.  He passes to Snow who puts his shot wide.  Loyola finally gets the ball back and they have a good clear.  O’Sullivan takes a shot that Murphy saves after the Greyhounds had worked the ball around.  The Stags’ Junior D Middie Shawn Honovich takes the ball down the field and fires a shot wide.  Loyola calls time out to reset their defense at 4:59.  The Stags restart and the officials call another 30 second shot warning with 3:55 on the clock.  Snow goes to the cage and scores unassisted at 3:46.  This cuts the lead to 8-4.  Both Roe and Burkhart are in the face off circle.  Roe wins and gets to the ground ball.  Fairfield needs a goal and the offense is working hard to find a way to beat Runkel.  Warden takes a shot but Runkel makes the save and starts the clear.  Junior Long Pole Defender Toby Armour causes Loyola’s Pontello to turn the ball over at 1:43.  Armour gets the ground ball and starts the clear.  Coach Copelan calls his second timeout of the half with 1:24 left in the half.  Fairfield restarts but the Stags turnover the ball and Loyola’s Frazier gets the ground ball and starts the clear.  With 56 seconds left in the half, Loyola’s Hawkins scores unassisted to push the Loyola lead to 9-4.  Roe beats Burkhart at the face off circle with Roe getting the ground ball.  The Stags works the attack for 30 seconds but turn the ball over.  Loyola’s coach calls his second time out with 11 seconds later.  Butts sends a shot high 5 seconds remaining and Loyola’s Sawyer turns the ball over.  The period ends with the Greyhounds leading 9-4.

Donovan rejoins Roe in the face off circle to start the second half with Roe getting another win and his wing Johnson picks up the ground ball.  The Stags works the ball for a minute when Neubauer takes a wide shot.  Loyola’s Pat Laconi is called for a 30 second holding penalty and the Stags’ EMO unit makes it second appearance of the day at 13:51 of the third period.  The EMO unit work the ball and at 13:38 Greenfield scores a man up goal with Snow getting an assist.  Loyola now has a 9-5 lead.  Roe and Donovan continue their face off battle with Roe winning both the face off and ground ball.  The Stags work the offense for the next 40 seconds and then turn the ball over.  Loyola clears and Ratliff scores his fourth goal of the day with Pat Laconi getting an assist at 12:44.  Loyola increases their lead to 10-5.  Roe and Donovan come out the midfield but the officials call a violation on Donovan.  The Stags pick up the ball and start their offense.  Forty seconds into the offensive effort, Loyola has a caused turnover and Hawkins picks up the ground ball and starts the clear.  In no rush, Loyola’s offense takes it time and a minute later with 10:53 remaining in the third period, Loyola’s Sawyer gets a goal with an assist from Ward.  The Greyhounds now have a 11-5 lead.  Burkhard now comes back to face Roe at the X and the officials call a violation on Burkhard.  The Stags work the ball downfield quickly and Warden scores unassisted to cut the Loyola to 11-6 with 10:18 left on the clock. Roe beats Burkhard at the X and Roe gets the ground ball.  For the next seven minute both team trade the ball and take shots that do not go in.  At 3:49, the Greyhounds’ Hawkins gets a 30 second pushing penalty.  The Fairfield extra man unit works to cut the Loyola lead.  The extra man opportunity ends and 2 seconds later Freshman Attack Mikey Gulasey shoots and hits the post! Loyola wins the race to the ball and clear the ball.  The Greyhounds take 90 seconds off the clock and Sawyer scores unassisted with 1:29 remaining in the third period to up the Loyola lead to 12-6.  Roe once again beats Donovan at the X and Roe  again wins the ground ball.  Stags clear and try to score for the next minute but with 33 seconds left in the period, Loyola has a caused turnover.  Fletcher gets the ground ball for the Greyhounds and Fletcher passes to Hawkins who works his way to the cage and score unassisted with 18 seconds remaining on the clock.  Loyola now leads 13-6.  Roe beats Donovan at the face off circle and Johnson gets the ground ball.  Johnson goes the cage immediately and his shot with 8 seconds is saved by Runkel.  He makes a clear and Loyola’s Sawyer puts a shot on net as the clock expires with Murphy making that same.  Loyola now leads 13-6.

Roe and Burkhart battle to start the fourth quarter and Burkhart wins with Ratliff now on the wing getting the ground ball.  The fourth quarter sees only one illegal procedure penalty for 30 seconds by Federico at 10:24.  Neither team can score until Sperry gets a goal unassisted at 1:56 left in the game to make the final score 13-7.

Loyola outshot the Stags by a 38 to 33 margin.  Fairfield had 9 saves in goal and Loyola had seven saves.  The Stags won the ground ball game getting to 34 gbs while the Greyhounds snagged 20.  While Fairfield only committed 13 turnovers, Loyola has just 8 turnovers.  The Stags won the face off battle taking 17 of 24 face offs and Loyola only won 7 of 24 face offs.  Loyola was 20 of 20 in its clears and Fairfield has an excellent 18 of 19 successful clears.  Both teams had one extra man goal with Fairfield have 3 chances and was man up twice.

Stars of the game:  Eric Warden lead the Stags in scoring with 2 goals and one ground ball.  Marshall Johnson was credited with 7 ground balls.  Michael Roe was 15 of 22 in the face off circle returning to his 2012 form and he had 9 ground balls.  Jordan Greenfield had one goal and two ground balls.  On defense Toby Armour and Dan Niebler each had one caused turnover. Leading the Greyhounds was Scott Ratliff with four goals and three ground balls.  Josh Hawkins had two goals and two ground balls.  Mike Sawyer and Justin Ward each had two goals.  Joe Fletcher was credited with three ground balls.

The Stags return to action on Saturday April 13th at home against ECAC opponent Air Force .  The game will be played on Lessing Field and starts after the women’s game versus Canisius.  Saturday will also be Senior Day and all the seniors will be honored in a ceremony before the game.

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-The Fairfield Lacrosse Stags are on the road this Saturday, April 6th in Baltimore, Maryland to play the Defending National Champions Loyola University at 2:30 PM.  Loyola is currently ranked #5 in the Nike/Media Poll and #6 in the Coaches Poll.  This will also be a ECAC Lacrosse League game.  The  Greyhounds have a 8-2 overall record and a 4-0 ECAC Conference record.  Fairfield has a 6-4 season record and 2-1 ECAC Conference mark.

Loyola started the year ranked #1 in the country as the defending champions and a return of many of the key players from last year’s team.  The Greyhounds opened the season with an exhibition against the U.S. National Team in Lake Buena Vista, FL.  Loyola lost the game by of score of 17-13 against an all star post graduate team.  They opened the season on the road playing at Deleware.  Loyola won this game in a tight 9-8 score.  They stayed on the road visiting intra state rival Townson.  The Greyhounds came out on top in this game by a 14-9 tally.  Loyola had their home season opener against another intra state rival, Maryland.  The Terrapins were ranked #2 in the country at the time of this game.  The nationally televised game saw Maryland jump out into an early lead and holding on to beat the Greyhounds by a 12-10 score.  Another intra state rival, UMBC was up next for Loyola at home.  The Greyhounds won the game going away by a 21-9 margin.  In an ECAC game, Loyola closed out its home stand by beating Bellarmine by a 8-6 margin.  Loyola then traveled to Durham, NC to take on the Duke Blue Devils.  Duke beat Loyola by a 9-8 score.  The Greyhounds traveled to Denver, CO and played the Air Force, another ECAC game.  Loyola beat the Falcons by a 13-7 margin.  In March, the Greyhounds took on the Georgetown Hoyas.  The Greyhounds beat the Hoyas by a 13-8 mark.  Next on the road for Loyola was the newest ECAC Lacrosse member, the Michigan Wolverines.  Michigan fell to Loyola by a 13-8 score. Staying in the Midwest, the Greyhounds played last Saturday at #8 ranked and fellow ECAC conference opponent, Ohio State.  The Buckeyes tied the score at 3-3 with 3:03 left in the first half.  Then Loyola in a span of of less than 90 seconds, Loyola scored for 3 goals to have a 6-3 half time lead.  The Greyhounds continued scoring with the next three goals, two in the third quarter and one in the fourth to take a commanding 9-3 lead.  The Greyhounds defense shut out the Buckeyes for nearly 33 minutes, which included all the third quarter and much of the fourth stanza.  Ohio State got the final goal of the day with only 9 seconds left in the game.  The final score was 9-4 in Loyola’s favor.  In this game the Loyola man down unit stopped five extra man chances for Ohio State.  The Buckeyes were fifth in the nation in this catergory with a 53.8 conversion rate coming into the game.

Loyola enters this game scoring 115 goals in 390 shot attempts for a 11.50 goals scored per game average.  Their opponents have scored 75 times out of 309 shot attempts witha  7.50 goals per game average.  The Greyhounds have a .295 shot percentage while averaging 39.0 shots per game.  The opposition has a .243 shot percentage with an average of 30.9 shots per game.  Loyola has gotten 68 of their goals via the assist route and 47 unassisted goals.  The Loyola opponents have gotten 34 of their goals via the assist route and 41 of the goals scored this season unassisted.  Greyhounds have gotten 11 of their goals this season with an extra man and have been credited with one man down goal.  Loyola man up unit has been on the field 33 times this season with a .333 conversion rate.  Their opponents have score only 4 times this season with an extra man out of 29 chances for a .138 conversion rate.

Loyola has gotten to 337 ground balls while the opponents have gotten to 260 gbs.  The Greyhounds have had 139 turnovers this year and their defense has been credited with 100 caused turnovers.  The opponents have turned the ball over 161 times this season and have caused 71 Loyola turnovers.  Loyola’s face off unit has won 120 of the 225 face offs taken this season with a .533 winning rate.  The opponents have won 105 of the 225 face offs taken in 2013 with a .467 conversion rate.  Loyola is clearing at a .930 percentage this year and the opponents have cleared .892 percent of the times.  Loyola has been flagged for a penalty 30 times this year and their oppenents have received 34 penalties.

The most productive quarter for scoring by the Greyhounds is the third period with 39 goals.  They have hit the back of the net 28 times in the second quarter and scored 27 goals in the first period.  Loyola final quarter has seen the attack score 21 times.  Their opponents best scoring period is the final stanza with 24 goals. The opening quarter has seen the opposition get 21 goals and 18 goals in the third quarter.  The opposition’s lowest scoring period is the second period with 12 goals.

The Greyhounds have eight players being credited with double diget points this season.  Their most prolific point getter is Justin Ward who has 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points.  Nikko Pontrello has had 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in this campaign.  Mike Sawyer and Chris Layne are tied on the team with 19 points.  Sawyer has scored 17 goals and 2 assists while Layne has produced 11 goals and 8 assists.  With 12 points this year are Zach Herreweyers and Davis Butts.  Butts has four goals and 8 assists while Herreweyers has 11 goals and one assist. Both Sean O’Sullivan and Scott Ratliff have points this season.  O’Sullivan has 9 goals and one assist while Ratliff has 7 goals and three assists.  In goal, Jack Runkel,  who is Fairfield native but went to private school, has been between the pipes for for 533 of the 600 minutes played this season.  He has allowed 70 goals and has a 7.87 goals against average.  He has made 78 saves this year with a .527 save percentage.  His relief in the nets, Jimmy Joe Granito, has been in the cage for 66 minutes.  He has allowed 5 goals with a 4.53 goals against average. Granito has been made 8 saves with a .615 save percentage.

Fairfield has scored 92 goals this year after taking 347 shot attempts for a 9.20 goals per game average and a .265 shot percentage.  Their opponents have scored 91 goals with the opposition has taken 352 shot attempts for a 9.10 goals per game average and a.259 shot percentage. Fairfield has taken 34.7 shots per game and the opponents are averaging 35.2 shots per game.  The Stags have gotten 45 goals via an assist and 47 unassisted goals while the opponents have 44 goals via the assist and 47  unassisted goals.  Fairfield have converted 13 extra man goals this season going 13-48 this season for .271 conversion rate while the opponents have scored 9 goals in 31 attempts for a .290 conversion rate.

Fairfield has gotten to 320 ground balls and the opponents have scooped up 331 ground balls.  The Stags have turned the ball over 151 times this year while the opponents are turning the ball over 155 times.  Fairfield’s defense has caused 74 turnovers this season and the opponents have caused the Stags to turn the ball over 89 times.  In the face off circle, Fairfield has won 90 of 212 attempts for a .425 winning percentage and the opponents have been successful 122 times out of 212 chances for a .575 winning percentage.  The Stags have been successful on .844 percentage  of their clears and the opposition has cleared the ball with a .846 percentage. Fairfield has been penalized 35 times this season and the opponents have been flagged 48 times.

The opening stanza has seen Fairfield score 26 times in the 2013 campaign.  The fourth period has been the second most productive period with the Stags hitting the back of the net 26 times and the second period has the Stags scoring 22 times. Fairfield’s least productive period had been the third period with 19 goals being scored.  The opponents best scoring period is the final quarter with 28 goals.  Opponents have scored 23 times in  the second quarter and 22 times in the third quarter.  The opponents have scored just 18 times in the first period.

Leading the Stags in scoring are Jordan Greenfield with 22 goals and 7 assists for 29 points and Sam Snow is second on the team with 14 goals and eight assists for 22 points.  Super Soph Colin McLinden has nine goals and nine assists for 18 points.  Tristian Sperry now has 17 points with 14 goals and three assists. Nick Guida and Super Frosh TJ Neubauer both have eleven points. Guida has seven goals and four assists while Neubauer has nine goals and two assists.  Eric Warden has five goals and four assists for nine points.  Drew Federico and Marshall Johnson have six points. They both have  scored three goals and three assists.  Jack Murphy has played all 600 minutes in goal this year. He has allowed 91 goals for a 9.10 goals against average and getting 114 saves for a .556 save percentage.  Murphy has faced 352 shots so far in this season.

What to Expect:  A very tough task for the Stags this Saturday.  Loyola is playing its first home game since the  early March and the game will be played after a women’s game that starts at 12 noon.  Runkel is a tough goal keeper and Justin Ward is scoring lots of goals and assists.  I am impressed that their man down defense has only allowed four goals this season.  Ratliff is a game changer. In last year’s game, the Stags were leading after 3 periods.  So the Stags showed they can play with the Greyhonds.  The team needs to be firing on all cylinders.  Got to get Sam Snow and Nick Guida to start scoring again.  The Stags annually upset a major ranked opponent.  Coach Copelan knows how to game plan and the team historically play tights games.  I expect a hard fought and back and forth game.  Will not predict a score again this week.  GO STAGS!!  Roger Yergeau ’73

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-On a clear and 60 degree spring day, the Fairfield Stags could not overcome a 6-3 halftime deficit with a furious fourth quarter rally and fell to ECAC Lacrosse League foe Bellarmine by an 8-7 score.  The Stags are now 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the ECAC Lacrosse League standings.

The game started with Junior FOGO man Michael Roe in the face off circle facing the Knights’ David Herring.  Roe wins the initial face off and gets to the ground ball.  He sets up the Stags’ first offensive effort.  The Stags are searching and probing the Bellarmine defense when at 13:47, Sophomore Attack Tristian Sperry has his first shot blocked.  Bellarmine is successful on their first clear of the day.  The Knights work the ball around the wheel and at 12:59, the Knight’s Chad Mitchell beats Junior Goal Keeper Jack Murphy for the first goal of the day.  Mitchell’s goal is unassisted and the Knights lead 1-0.  Herring and Roe take the second face off of the day and this time Herring wins the draw.  His wing Bobby Schmitt gets the loose ground ball.  Bellarmine takes a shot 40 seconds after the face off but Murphy makes the save.  He starts the Stags clear and the Fairfield offense takes over.  At 11:09, the Bellarmine’s defense creates a caused turnover.  The Knights clear the ball and the attack works for a shot.  With 10:07 left in the first period, the Knight’s Karsen Leung scores unassisted to give Bellarmine a 2-0 lead.  Herring beats Roe on the next face off and Herring gets to the ground ball.  Bellarmine takes a fast shot wide but retains the ball.  At 9:14, the Knights have a turnover and Fairfield clears.  Stags work the offensive attack and at 7:52, Senior Co-Captain Sam Snow takes a shot that the Bellarmine Goal Keeper Dillon Ward saves.  Ward starts the Knights clear and quick shot taken by Bellarmine is saved by Murphy.  The Knights  pickup the loose ground ball and they turn the ball over at 6:25.  Fairfield clears and quickly goes on the attack with Sperry taking a shot that is high.  On the shot, Bellarmine’s Reid Wesley is called for a one minute cross checking penalty at 5:48.  The Stags’ extra man unit comes on the field and works the ball quickly.  Snow passes to Junior Attack Jordan Greenfield who blasts the shot past the Bellarmine goal keeper at 5:20.  Snow gets the assist and the Stags cut the lead to 2-1.  Roe wins the subsequent face off after a Bellarmine violation.  The Stags work the ball for one minute and Coach Copelan calls  for his first time of the day.  After the time out, the Stags turn the ball over and Bellarmine clears. For the next several minutes, both teams take shots and have turnovers.  With 38 seconds left in the first period, the Stags’ Sophomore Mid Fielder Drew Federico takes a shot the Ward saves.  Dillon Ward makes a quick clear and Schmitt passes to Michael Ward.  Michael Ward gets a goal with Schmitt assisting at 27 seconds for a 3-1 Bellarmine lead.  Herring beats Roe on the face off and gets the ground ball.  Herring takes a shot that Murphy saves but the Knights’ Cameron Gardner gets the ground ball.  He takes a shot and scores unassisted with 20 seconds left in the first period to give Bellarmine 4-1 lead.  Herring wins the last face off of the first period and Gardner takes a shot that goes wide.  The first period ends with the Knight’s winning 4-1.

The second period starts with Roe winning the face off and getting the ground ball.  He feeds Snow who takes an immediate shot but is blocked.  Roe gets the rebound ground ball and settles the offense.  At 13:48, Super Frosh TJ Neubauer takes a shot that Ward saves but the Knights have a 30 second penalty called on Colin Hart for pushing.  The man up unit comes on the field and start moving the ball.  Snow takes a shot that is saved by Ward. Stags retained the ball but Bellarmine causes a turnover after both team are even strength.  The Bellarmine’s clear is good.  Quickly Neubauer causes a Knights’ turnover and he picks up the loose ground ball.  The Stags move the ball down field and are now firing from all angles.  First Sperry takes a shot that Ward saves.  Greenfield picks up the rebound ground ball and he sends a shot wide.  On the backup,  Stags restart the offense and now Junior Midfielder Eric Warden fires a shot that Ward saves.  Federico gets the ball and blasts it past the Knight’s goal keeper to score unassisted at 11:44 of the second period and cuts the lead in half to 4-2.  Bellarmine’s Herring wins the face and his wing Wesley gets the ground ball.  After about a minute of trying to find an opening in the Stags’ defense, Bellarmine turns the ball over on a caused turnover by Junior  D Middie Shawn Honovich.  The Stags clear fails and turnover the ball to Bellarmine.  The Knights clear the ball and set up their offense.  At 9:10 of the second period, Bellarmine’s Karsen Leung scores unassisted to make it a 5-2 ball game.  Roe now wins the face off but turns the ball over to Bellarmine.  For the next seven and half minutes, neither team can score and the Stags’ offense get two 30 second shot clock warnings.  At 1:36 of the half, Bellarmine has a turnover but the Stags fail to clear.  The Knights Michael Ward gets the ground ball and feeds Bobby Schmidt. Schmidt hits a cutting Lance Robinson.  Robinson scores with 1:25 left in the half and now pushes Bellarmine’s lead to 6-2 with Schmidt getting the assist.  Roe wins the face off and gets the ground ball.  With 48 seconds left in the second period, Super Soph Colin McLinden scores an unassisted goal and cuts the lead to 6-3.  Herring beats Roe on the face off and gets to the ground ball.  Bellarmine calls time out with 39 seconds remaining in an effort to get the final shot.  On the restart, Senior Co-Captain D Middie Marshall Johnson causes a turnover and the Fairfield clear is good.  With 11 seconds left on the clock, Coach Copelan calls timeout .  The Stags fail to get shot off after the timeout and go into halftime down 6-3.

The third period starts with Roe winning the initial face off and Junior Long Pole Defender Greg Perraut playing the wing and scooping up the ground ball.  He sets up the Stags’ attack and at 13:41 Warden takes a shot the Ward saves.   The Knights clears but the defense has a caused turnover credited to Senior Long Pole Defender Dan Niebler.  Perraut picks up the ground ball and the Stags clear.  Fairfield offense sets up quickly and Greenfield takes a shot that Ward saves.  Bellarmine clears and now their offense shots quickly.  Michael Ward has a wide shot but the Knights retain the ball.  The Knights get the ball in play and at 11:00 minutes in the third stanza, Robinson scores with an assist to Ryan Scinta.  Bellarmine pushes the lead to 7-3.  Roe is now winning the face offs and he takes this one while getting to the ground ball.  Stags need and want a goal quickly and Sperry responds.  He scores unassisted at 10:23 to cut the Bellarmine lead to 7-4.  Roe wins again and gets the ground ball to set up the Stags offense.  After a couple of quick Stags’ shots and a 30 second warning, both teams are unable to find the back of the net for the next four minutes.  At 7:06 during a Bellarmine clear, Senior D Middie Gordie Wells causes a turnover and gets the ground ball.  He clears the defensive zone and the Stags are working hard on attack.  At 6:21 in the period, Sperry again finds pay dirt and scores unassisted to make it a 7-5 ballgame.   Bellarmine sends out Stephen Soriano to take the face off against Roe.  Roe wins again with Johnson on the wing gets the loose ground ball.  Sperry goes for the hat trick at 5:26 by Ward makes another save.  Play is blown dead as Soriano for Bellarmine receives a 30 second technical foul for pushing.  On the EMO chance, both Snow and Greenfield take shots that Ward saves one and one goes wide.  The period ends with neither of the teams scoring and Warden getting a high shot off with 2 seconds left in the quarter. The quarter ends with Bellarmine leading 7-5.

The fourth quarter starts with Roe staying hot in the face off circle.  He beats Herring and Roe gets the ground ball.  Sperry takes a quick shot that goes wide.  Fairfield backs up and work the ball around.  At 14:01, Greenfield takes a shot and Ward makes the save.  Federico gets the rebound ground ball and passes to Neubauer whose shot goes wide.  Stags back up and reset the offense.  Greenfield takes another shot that Ward saves but the Stags retain the ball.  At 12:21 left in the game, Bellarmine has a caused turnover, they gather the ground ball and make a successful clear.  The Knights are taking their time and a shot by Michael Ward is blocked but Bellarmine retains the ball.  At 10:39 left in the game, the officials call a 30 second shot warning on the Knights.  They go to the cage and one shot is blocked. After picking up a loose ground ball, Brogan Hill scores unassisted at 10:16 putting Bellarmine up by three for a 8-5 lead.  Roe has Herring’s number and wins the face off with Super Frosh Neubauer on the wing getting to the ground ball.  Bellarmine quickly has a caused turnover and get the ground ball.  Greenfield is all over the Bellarmine midfielder and he causes a turnover.   Snow gets the ground ball and he settles down the attack.  Sperry takes a shot at 9:16 that Ward saves.  Federico gets the loose ground ball and he dodges the Bellarmine defense and scores his second goal of the day unassisted at 9:03.  The score is now Bellarmine 8 and Fairfield 6.  Roe is dominating the face off circle and beats Herring.  Johnson now on the wing picks up the ground ball and sets up the Fairfield attack.  At 8:20, the Stags are assessed their only penalty of the day with Warden getting a 30 second pushing penalty.  Bellarmine extra man unit is not going to the cage and after both teams are even, the Knights are warned by the officials that the 30 shot clock warning is on.  Bellarmine takes a shot that Murphy saves and he starts the clear.  At 6:34 on the clock, Coach Copelan calls a time out to set up the offense.  The Stags on the restart move the ball and Sperry gets his third goal of the day at 6:17 to cut the Bellarmine lead 8-7.  Sperry’s goal is unassisted.  Soriano is back in the face off circle for Bellarmine.  Roe again wins the face off and he gets the ground ball.  The Stags are patiently working the attack trying to find the chance to get the tying goal.  At 4:55, McLinden sends a shot wide and the Stags back up.  Snow gets his shot off and Ward makes the save. The goal keeper gets to the ground ball and he starts the clear.  The Knights are in no rush to take a shot.  With 3:08 left in the game, Bellarmine has a turnover and Johnson gets to the ground ball.  Stags clear and with 2:15 left in the game, Greenfield shoots and hits the post! The Knights clear and at 1:23, the officials call a 30 second shot clock warning.  Junior D Middie Pete Di Salvo causes a turnover and gets the loose ground ball.  However, the Stags fail to clear the ball and turn the ball over. With 42 seconds, Bellarmine takes a shot and Murphy makes a save.  Murphy get the ground ball and makes the clear.  Coach Copelan calls his last time out.  On the restart, Warden gets a good look but sends the shot wide.  Stags back up and with one second left, Snow’s shot is saved by Ward.  Game ends with Bellarmine winning 8-7.

Stars of the game-Tristian Sperry had a hat trick while Drew Federico had two goals and three ground balls.  Getting that ice breaking goal against Hobart has restarted Federico’s offense.  Jordan Greenfield had one goal but also had four ground balls and one key caused turnover.  Junior Long Pole Defender Toby Armour had three ground balls.  Face off man Michael Roe dominated the face off circle and did not lose a second half face off.  He won 13 of 19 face offs and was credited with 10 ground balls.  Star for Bellarmine was Dillon Ward.  The goal keeper had 17 saves and four ground balls. With two goals each, Lance Robinson and Karsen Leung paced the Knights’ offensively.

In the game, the Stags out shot the Knights by a 43 to 25 margin.  Fairfield got to 40 ground balls versus 27 ground balls snagged by Bellarmine. The Stags had 17 turnovers while the Knights only had 14 turnovers.  Fairfield converted one of three extra man chances while Bellarmine did not convert their one attempt.  As noted, the Stags won the face off circle battle getting 13 of 19 face offs,

The Stags travel to Baltimore, Maryland to take on the defending national champions Loyola in another ECAC Lacrosse League game on Saturday April 6th.

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-The Fairfield Stags will play at home on Saturday March 30 with a 12 Noon face off time.  The Stags (6-3)(2-0) host the ECAC Lacrosse League opponent Bellarmine Knights (6-2)(2-2) in an important league tilt.  Alumni Field will be the site of the game.

The Knights travel to Fairfield from Lexington, Kentucky.  They started the season with a road win over Robert Morris by a 9-8 score.  Bellarmine opened their home season and ECAC Lacrosse League play with a win over Michigan by a 12-6 margin.  Staying at home, the Knights next beat High Point by a 12-5 score.  Bellarmine next went to Baltimore to play an ECAC game against National Champion Loyola.  Loyola outlasted the Knights by a 8-6 mark.  The Knights went back home and have recently concluded a four game home set.  First, they got back on the winning side of the ledger by beating Detroit Mercy by a 10-4 mark.  Fellow ECAC Lacrosse League member Air Force traveled to Lexington and the Knights won by a 11-10 score.  Mercer next came to Kentucky and fell to the Knights by a 12-5 score. Bellarmine finished the home stand last Saturday and lost their second ECAC Lacrosse League contest by a 9-7 score to #8 Ohio State.  The first quarter saw both teams trading goals until the Buckeyes jumped into a 3-2 lead at the 6:52 mark.  Ohio State got the first goal of the second stanza for a 4-2 lead but Bellarmine came back with 2 goals to tie the game at 4-4 with Karson Leung and Cameron Gardner scoring for the Knights.  Ohio State got a goal with 4 seconds left in the first half beating the Knights’ goal keeper Dillon Ward to go into the locker room with a 5-4 lead.  Bellarmine gets the first goal of the third period from Brogan Hill to tie the score at 5-5. The Buckeyes score the last two goals of the quarter to have a 7-5 lead going into the last 15 minutes of the game.  Bellarmine scored first in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 7-6 but the Buckeyes score two straight goals.  Bellarmine got the final goal of the game to make it a 9-7 final score.

In its eight games this season, Bellarmine has scored 79 goals in 277 shot attempts for a 9.88 goals scored per game average with a .285 shot percentage.  Their opponents have scored just 55 goals off of 285 shots with a 6.88 goals scored per game average with a .193 shot percentage.  The Knights have scored 57 goals via the assist and 22 unassisted goals.  Bellarmine is taking 34.6 shots per game.  The opposition has scored via the assist 26 times and have had 29 unassisted goals.  The opponents are averaging 35.6 shots per game. Bellarmine extra man unit has hit the back of the nets six times out of 25 chances for a .240 conversion rate.  The opponents have scored 7 man up goals with 26 opportunities for a .269 conversion rate.  Bellarmine has scored twice this season while being a man down.

Bellarmine has gotten to 203 ground balls while the opponents have snagged 189 ground balls.  The Knights have turned the ball over 125 times this season and their defense has caused 68 turnovers.  The opposition have committed 127 turnovers and caused Bellarmine to turn the ball over 53 times.  In the face off game, the Knights have won 80 of 163 face offs for a .491 winning percentage.  The opposition gathered 83 face offs in the 163 tries for a .509 winning percentage.  The Knights have a .872 clearing percentage and the opponents have cleared the ball at a .869 rate.  The officials have flagged Bellarmine for 26 penalties this season and only 25 times for their opponents.

Bellarmine has scored 23 goals in the second quarter.  In the final stanza, the Knights scored 22 times in 2013.  Both the first and third quarters have seen Bellarmine scored 17 goals.  Their opponent’s best scoring period is the third quarter with 17 goals.  The second period has seen the opposition scoring 14 goals.  The first and fourth quarters have seen the opponents score 12 goals.

Leading the Knights in points for the season is Karsen Leung with 25 points.  He has scored 7 goals and been credited with 18 assists.  The top goal scorer is Cameron Gardner with 20 goals and 3 assists.  Tied for third place in points for Bellarmine are Michael Ward and Lance Robinson with 21 points.  Ward has 14 goals and 7 assists while Robinson has 12 goals and 9 assists.  Dillion Ward has played 450 minutes in goal this season.  He has allowed 48 goals this year with a stellar 6.40 goals against average.  Ward has been credited with 115 saves this season with a .706 save percentage.  Great save percentage!  He has faced 266 shots this year.  Appearing in one game for 30 minutes was Will Haas.  He has allowed 7 goals in his one appearance with a 14 goals against average.

Fairfield has scored 85 goals this year after taking 304 shot attempts for a 9.44 goals per game average and a .280 shot percentage.  Their opponents have scored 83 goals with the opposition has taken 327 shot attempts for a 9.22 goals per game average and a.254 shot percentage. Fairfield has taken 33.8 shots per game and the opponents are averaging 36.3 shots per game.  The Stags have gotten 44 goals via an assist and 41 unassisted goals while the opponents have 41 goals via the assist and 42 unassisted goals.  Fairfield have converted twelve extra man goals this season going 12-45 this season for .267 conversion rate while the opponents have scored 9 goals in 30 attempts for a .300 conversion rate.

Fairfield has gotten to 280 ground balls and the opponents have scooped up 304 ground balls.  The Stags have turned the ball over 134 times this year while the opponents are turning the ball over 141 times.  Fairfield’s defense has caused 67 turnovers this season and the opponents have caused the Stags to turn the ball over 79 times.  In the face off circle, Fairfield has won 77 of 193 attempts for a .399 winning percentage and the opponents have been successful 116 times out of 193 chances for a .601 winning percentage.  The Stags have been successful on .843 percentage  of their clears and the opposition has cleared the ball with a .831 percentage. Fairfield has been penalized 34 times this season and the opponents have been flagged 45 times.

The opening stanza has seen Fairfield score 25 times in the 2013 campaign.  The fourth period has been the second most productive period with the Stags hitting the back of the net 23 times and the second period has the Stags scoring 20 times. Fairfield’s least productive period had been the third period with 17 goals being scored.  The opponents best scoring period is the final quarter with 27 goals.  Opponents have scored 21 times in both the third quarter and  the second quarter.  The opponents have scored just 14 times in the first period.

Leading the Stags in scoring are Jordan Greenfield with 21 goals and 7 assists for 28 points and Sam Snow is second on the team with 14 goals and seven assists for 21 points.  Super Soph Colin McLinden has eight goals and nine assists for 17 points.  Tristian Sperry now has 14 points with eleven goals and three assists. Nick Guida and Super Frosh TJ Neubauer both have eleven points. Guida has seven goals and four assists while Neubauer has nine goals and two assists.  Eric Warden has five goals and four assists for nine points.  Marshall Johnson has six points with three goals and three assists.  Jack Murphy has played all 540 minutes in goal this year. He has allowed 83 goals for a 9.22 goals against average and getting 102 saves for a .551 save percentage.  Murphy has faced 327 shots so far in this season.

What to expect: All the games for the rest of the season are important and big games.  The goal is to be one of the top four teams in the ECAC Lacrosse League to qualify for the May 2nd and May 4th Tourament.  Winner of the tournament gets the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  In past years, I would have said a win against Bellarmine was an almost automatic.  They have had a good season in 2013 and their two losses have been by only two goals in both games against top 10 ranked teams.  The Knights do not have a signature win.  In the comparision of common opponents, Bellarmine beat Michigan by 6 goals and the Stags beat Michigan by 2 goals.  Robert Morris beat Hobart by 4 goals and Fairfield beat Hobart by 3 goals while Bellarmine beat Robert Morris by one.  Confused?  The Knights goal keeper numbers jump off the page, a 6.40 goals against average and a .706 save percentage.  Scary numbers.  Their face off number are only 50/50 for the season.  Ohio State beat them in the face off X taking 12 of 19 and beat them in the ground ball game by a 25-15 margin.  This game almost has me stumped.  Coach Copelan’s record in close games and playing at home seem to me to give the Stags an edge.  I know that I have said Sam Snow is going to have a big scoring game in the last couple of pre game reports but this will be Sam’s second to last game at home.  I got to believe he is ready to have a hat trick plus game this Saturday.  Jordan Greenfield had a “quiet” game against Hobart and I feel that he will be able to have a great game this Saturday.  Was the Hobart game Super Frosh’s TJ Neubauer coming out party?  With that rocket shot, it was only a matter of time that he broke out.  Did Michael Roe’s face off performance against Hobart show that he is back to his 2012 form?  I would expect him to have at a minimum of 50% of his face offs.  Fully expect Super Soph McLinden to had his “typical” two goal and one assist day and Eric Warden to get his goal and play stellar defense. I like the way the EMO unit has been scoring at higher conversion rate.  Bellarmine does not seem to get a lot of penalties so the extra man unit needs to cash in any opprotunity they get. Need the defense and Murphy to put the clamps on Gardner, Ward and Robinson while limiting the assists put out by Leung. Got to get to those ground balls.  The Stags will need a fast start to put their goal keeper back on his heals.  A strong first quarter scoring will set the tone for the game. I know that my last week’s prediction was right on the mark.  Will make a prediction again-A typical close Fairfield game that will keep everyone on the edge the whole game.  Stags by 2 goals to go 3-0 in ECAC Lacrosse League play.  GO STAGS!!!  Roger Yergeau ’73

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-The Stags traveled to Geneva, NY to take on the Statesmen of Hobart in a tight contest for three quarters.  Fairfield dominated the fourth quarter and came away with a 13-10 victory.  For the spring that won’t come, the teams played on a cloudy 33 degree upstate New York cold day.  When the ECAC Lacrosse League Tournament comes to Hobart in May, hopefully the weather will be warmer and the Stags will be on of the four teams playing.   The Stags now have a 6-3 overall record and are 2-0 in ECAC Lacrosse League play.

The Stags’ Junior Michael Roe is starting in the face off circle taking on Hobart’s Charles Sipe.  Roe wins the draw and Senior Co-Captain Marshall Johnson playing on the wing picks up the ground  ball.  The Stags get into their offensive set.  Just 55 seconds in the game, Super Soph Middie Colin McLinden gets the Stags on the board with a 1-0 lead scoring an unassisted goal.  Roe and Sipe go back to the X and Sipe wins this confrontation. Sipe’s wing Ethan O’Connor gets the ground ball and the Statesmen gets into its offensive set.  Taking its time, Hobart takes a wide shot at 12:59 and retains the ball. At 12:15, Hobart’s Cam Stone ties the game at 1-1 with an unassisted goal.  Sipe wins this face off and his wing Eric Lombardo picks up the ground ball.  The Statesmen eventually turn the ball over to the Stags with Junior Middie Gordie Carrick getting the ground ball and starts the clear.  The Stags probe the Hobart defense.  Senior Co-Captain Midfielder Sam Snow takes a shot at 10:30 left in the period and the Hobart Goal Keeper Peter Zonino saves but Sophomore Attack Tristian Sperry snags the ground ball. Sperry fires a shot that Zonino saves.  Sperry again gets to the loose ball and he settles down the attack.  Snow takes another shot and Zonino saves again.  Sperry is on the rebound and his shot is blocked.  On the Stags turnover, Hobart clears the ball.  Hobart’s time to test the Stags defense and Jack McHenry assisted by Cam Stone gets a goal that give the Statesmen a 2-1 lead with 8:47 remaining in the first stanza.  Roe and Sipe get set in the face off circle and Sipe controls getting to the ground ball.  Twenty seconds later, the Statesmen turn the ball over and Fairfield clears.  The Stags take their time and keep testing Hobart.  At 6:54 mark of the first period, Sophomore Attack Nick Guida hits the back of the net to tie the game 2-2. Sophomore Middie Drew Federico is credited with the assist.  On the goal, Hobart’s Sean Regan gets a one minute slashing penalty.  The Stags’ extra man unit goes on the field to take the face off.  Roe is now facing Peter Bolte for the face off.  Roe wins the face off and Snow on the wing gets the ground ball to set the EMO chance.  With 30 seconds ticked off the clock, Guida takes a high shot and the Stags retain the ball.  Snow sets up Super Frosh TJ Neubauer who fires it home with no time left on the penalty clock at 5:54 for an extra man goal.  The Stags now lead the game at 3-2.  Roe is again faceing off against Sipe and Roe wins the face and also gets the ground ball. A couple of minutes go by with no scores.  At 3:01, the officials call a 30 second shot clock warning on Hobart.  Junior D Middie Shawn Honovich creates a turnover and gets the ground ball.  Two Statesmen are called for a 30 second pushing penalty, Alex Love and Gavin Llewellyn.  The Stags are two men up for 30 seconds.  Guida takes a wide shot that is backed up and he gets the pass back and takes another shot that Zonino saves.  Junior Attack Alex Creamer gets the ground ball but the penalties expire and the Stags have a turnover.  Hobart clears and they take a shot with 47 seconds left in the period that Junior Goal Keeper Jack Murphy saves.  Junior Long Pole Defender Toby Armour gets the rebound ground ball and starts the Fairfield clear.  On the clear, Hobart’s Love is called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for one minute with 24 seconds left in the first period.  Freshman Attack Mikey Gulasey is getting his first action of the 2013 season and is on the extra man unit.  He takes a shot that is blocked and Hobart gets to the ground ball.  Period ends with Stags winning 3-2 but Hobart has possession of the ball with a man in the penalty box and will start the second quarter with the ball.

The Statesmen have the ball to start the second quarter and the Stags play aggressive defense.  Hobart has a turnover and Coach Copelan calls time out at 14:32 to use the last 8 seconds remaining on the man up situation.  The Stags can not get shot off and retain the ball.  At 13:58, Hobart’s Reid Rosello is called for a 30 second holding penalty.  Fairfield’s extra man unit goes on the field.  Super Frosh Neubauer takes a shot that is blocked but Neubauer scoops up the ground ball and shoots immediately.  He scores the man up goal at 13:49 unassisted and the Stags lead 4-2.  On the goal, Hobart’s Sean Regan is flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct one minute penalty  Hobart’s coach calls his first time out of the half to settle his team.  Since the penalty was dead ball foul, there is no face off and the Stags get the ball at midfield.  On the restart, Fairfield works the ball but ball ends up on the field and Creamer picks up the ground ball.  He passes to Junior Attack Jordan Greenfield who shoots but his shot is blocked.  Hobart goal keeper Zonino gets the ground ball and starts a successful clear.  Hobart starts on offense but the Stags’ Carrick causes his second turnover of the day.  Stags clear.  Greenfield gets a loose ground ball and passes to Sperry.  Sperry dodges and puts the ball in the net to score unassisted with 11:12 left in the second period.  Fairfield now leads 5-2.  Roe and Sipe come back on the field for a face off and Sipe wins with the wing Lombardo gets the ground ball.  The Statesmen work the ball and at 10:20, Love scores unassisted for Hobart to cut Fairfield’s lead to 5-3 with 10:20 left in the half.  Sipe wins the face off over Roe and Lombardo again gets to the ground ball on the face off.  Hobart has a turnover but the Stags fail to clear.  At 8:47, a Statesman hits a post and the Statesmen’s Love get the ground ball.  He settles the Hobart offense and at 8:10, Stone gets an unassisted goal to reduce the Fairfield lead to 5-4.  Roe and Sipe battle again at the X and this time Roe wins the face off.   Roe picks up the ground ball and passes back to Sophomore Long Ball Defender Thomas Lukacovic.  Lokacovic takes the ball downfield and takes a high shot! The Stags back up and the offense is patient and works the ball around the Hobart defense.  Junior Middie Eric Warden, one of the hardest working Stags, drives to the cage and scores unassisted at 6:31 to push the Fairfield to a 2 goal lead at 6-4.  This time Sipe beats Roe on the face off and wing Lombardo gets the ground ball.  At 6:14 left in the half, Hobart calls a time out.  The Statesmen restart after the time out and they take two shots, the first one wide and Murphy makes the save on the second shot.  The Stags clear but at 4:01, the Statesmen create a turnover and they have a good clear.  At 3:21, Love scores unassisted to cut the lead to 6-5.  Hobart’s Sipe wins the face off against Roe and Hobart’s wing  O’Connor picks up the loose ground ball.  The Stags get the ball back but a Hobart creates a caused turnover. The Statesmen’s snag the ground ball and clear the ball at 1:40.  They work the ball around and with 39 seconds left in the half, Love scores again this time being assisted by Taylor Vanderbeek. The game is now tied at 6-6.  Roe wins the face off against Sipe and Freshman Middie Conor Dalton plays the wing on the face off gets the ground ball.  With no time remaining in the period , the Stags have a caused turnover.  Half ends with the Stags and Hobart going into the locker room tied at 6-6.

As I noted in the pre game report, the third period has seen both Hobart and their opponents scoring a lot of goals.  Will this happen in this contest?  Roe faces Sipe in the face off X to start the second half.  Sipe beats Roe and O’Connor for Hobart gets the loose ground ball.  The Statesmen get into their offensive set trying to see if Fairfield has made any defensive changes in the second half.  At 14:07, the Stags’ Armour picks up a one minute slashing call and Hobert’s EMO unit makes its first appearance of the day.  The Stags extra man defensive unit works hard and at 13:34 Hobart gets its only extra man shot that goes high. The Statesmen retain the ball and Love gets a ground ball at 12:59.  Five seconds later, he scores unassisted to put Hobart into the lead by a 7-6 score.  This time Roe beats Sipe at the face off circle and gets the ground ball.  However, he turns the ball over to Hobart and Sipe gets the ground ball.    Hobart’s O’Connor takes a quick shot high and the Statesmen retain the ball.  A minute later, Hobart’s Brown takes a shot that Murphy saves and he starts the clear.  The Stags offense work their offense and at 10:23 Super Frosh Neubauer gets his first career hat trick (I think there will a lot more hat trick days to come in the next four years).  Neubauer ties the score unassisted at 7-7.  With Roe and Sipe trading face off wins, this one goes to Sipe and the wing O’Conner picks up the ground ball.  Junior Long Stick Middie Connor Maniatty seeing his second game action this season gets called for a one minute tripping penalty.  The Stags extra man unit gets the ball after Hobart’s Stone commits a turnover and the Fairfield clears.  The Stags kill the last 45 seconds of the penalty.  When the penalty is over, the Stags go to the cage.  Sperry gets a goal with an assist from Guida at 8:35 left in the third period to put Fairfield into the lead, 8-7.  Now it is Roe’s turn to win the face off and he gets the ground ball.  For the next five minutes the teams trade the ball and no team scores.  At 4:41, Hobart gets a ground ball after the Stags make a turnover and the Statesmen successfully clear the ball.  With 3:52 left in the third perid, Derek Anker scores a goal  unassisted to tie the game again now at 8-8.  Roe wins his second consecutive face off and McLinden playing on the wing gets the ground ball. He sets up the Stags offense.  At 3:05, the ball is on Sophomore Midfielder Drew Federico’s stick and he scores an unassisted goal  to put the Stags in the lead by a 9-8 score.  Federico who is making the transition from attack to midfielder this season scored his first goal of the year.  Hope this goal scoring will break his personal scoring slump.  Federico has a number of assists this year helping the offense while not scoring himself. Congratulations Drew on working hard and getting this goal.  Now it is Sipe’s turn to win the face off and he gets the ground ball.  Sipe goes to the cage and takes a shot that Murphy saves.   Hobart’s Love gets the ground ball and sends a shot on the goal that Murphy again saves.  Hobart gets the rebound ground ball.  Love takes another shot that is blocked and Hobart gets the rebound ground ball.  Stone takes a shot that goes wide.  At 2:02, Fairfield’s Armour gets a 30 second penalty for pushing.  Hobart gets off one shot that goes wide and they retain the ball.  The officials call a 30 second shot warning against Hobart at 38 seconds left of the period.  Eleven seconds later, Hobart’s Taylor Vanderbeek scores with an assist from Stone to tie the game at 9-9.  Now it is Roe’s turn to win the face off and he gets the ground ball.  Roe passes to Snow who takes a shot wide at 17 seconds.  With 5 seconds left, Snow take a high shot.  Greenfield backing up the shot passes the ball to McLinden with one second left in the the period who puts it in the back of the net.  Greenfield is credited with an assist on the goal.  Fairfield now leads 10-9 at the end of the third period.

Another close Fairfield lacrosse game!!  Roe wins the face off to start the fourth quarter and Maniatty playing on the wing gets the ground ball to set up the Fairfield attack.  The Stags make a turnover and Hobart gets the ground ball and clears the defensive zone.  Senior D Middie Gordie Wells causes Hobart to turn the ball over and scoops the ground ball.  His clearing pass goes to Junior Defender Greg Perraut who sprints down the field with scoring a goal on his mind.  Perraut takes a shot that goes wide.  On the back up, the Stags get the ball and Super Frosh Neubauer puts home his fourth goal of the day unassisted to give Fairfield a two goal lead with 13:15 left in the game at 11-9.  It’s Sipe’s turn to win beat Roe at the face off X and Hobart goes on the attack.  The Statesmen’s Jake Silberlicht scores an unassisted goal at 12:45 to cut the Fairfield lead to 11-10.  Roe wins the subsequent face off and gets the ground ball and he sets up the Stags’offense.  Greenfield takes a shot that Zonino makes a save.  Hobart’s Lombard is called for a slashing penalty on Greenfield’s shot and Lombard gets one minute.  The Stags EMO unit comes on the field.  Gulasey misses getting his first career goal by hitting the post.  The Stags keep the ball and Greenfield takes a shot the Zonino saves.  Hobart’s clear is successful and they kill the balance of the penalty.  The Statemen work the ball for about a minute when Johnson causes a turnover. Freshman Long Stick Middie Trent Lauer seeing his first game playing time of the season gets the ground ball and sets up the offense.  With 9:25 left in the fourth quarter, Snow passes to Greenfield who puts the ball behind the goal keeper to give Fairfield a two goal lead at 12-10.  Snow gets his second assist of the day.  Now its Sipe’s turn to win the face off.  Sipe gets to the ground ball and again goes to the cage.  Perraut steps up and caused Sipe to turn the ball over.  Honovich gets the created ground ball but the Stags fail to clear and turn the ball over.  Hobart goes back on offense but Hobart’s Lauer creates a turnover with 8:19 left in the game.  Maniatty picks up the ground ball and Fairfield clears.  The Stags offense is determined to get a three goal lead.   At 7:41, Sperry sends a high shot towards the cage and the Stags retain the ball and look for the opening to score the 13th goal of the game and trying to kill some clock.  At 6:28, Sperry send a wide shot but the officials determine the shot was not on the cage and give Fairfield a 30 second shot clock warning at 6:24.  At 6:09, the officials call a 30 second shot clock warning against the Stags and the ball goes over to Hobart.  The Statesmen clear and look to cut into the Fairfield 2 goal lead.  At 5:01 a Hobart shot is blocked and 8 seconds later Perraut gets a ground ball and starts the Stags clear with 4:40 left in the game.  The Stags continue to take their time on offense and at 3:37 Sperry finds the back of the net unassisted.  This is Sperry’s third goal of the day and I believe is his first Stags career hat trick to put the Stags up 13-10.  I am sure we will see more hat tricks from Tristian over the next three years.  Roe wins the final face off of the day and Roe scoops up the ground ball.  The Hobart defense creates a Stags turnover with 2:45 left in the game and the Statesmen clear.  Murphy stops a Regan shot at 2:36 and Love’s shot at 2:29 is blocked.  Hobart gets the loose ground and call a timeout with 2:12 remaining.  On the restart, Hobart comes out shooting.  At 2:01 Stone takes a wide shot, and at 1:54 Love takes a shot the Murphy saves.  With 1:37 left on the clock, Murphy comes out of the cage and causes Stone to turn over the ball.  Murphy picks up the ground ball and starts the clear.  With 56 remaining in the contest, Hobart’s Regan gets a 30 second pushing penalty.  The man up unit works the ball to kill the clock and with no time remaining the Statesmen cause a turnover.

The Stags outshot the Statesmen by a 33 to 28 margin.  Both goal keepers were credited with 7 saves each.  Hobart just out beat Fairfield in the ground category by a 35 to 34 mark.  Both teams had 15 turnovers.  Hobat had 8 caused turnovers and the Stags had 7 caused turnovers.  The teams face off men had 24 face offs with each team getting 12 wins.  Fairfield completed 13 of 15 clears and Hobart was successful in getting 14 of 15 clears.  The Stags extra man unit converted two of six chances and the Fairfield man down defense shut out Hobart in their three attempts.

The stars of the game:  Super Frosh TJ Neubauer had a career day with his first Stags hat trick for a total of four goals and got to two ground balls.  Tristian Sperry also had a hat trick with his three goals.  Super Soph Colin McLinden contributed two goals including the first goal of the day along with 2 ground balls.  Sam Snow got two assists and picked up three ground balls.  Michael Roe got back to winning 50% of the face offs.  Goalkeeper Jack Murphy in addition to his seven saves he had seven ground balls.  Leading Hobart were Alex Love with 4 goals, five ground balls and Cam Stone had 2 goals and 2 assists.  Ethan O’Connor had five ground balls and Reid Rosello had four grounds.

The Stags will play Bellarmine on Saturday March 30th.  The game will be at Alumni Field and starts at 12 noon.  This will be an ECAC League Lacrosse game.  Roger Yergeau ’73

The Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-The Fairfield Stags (5-3) (1-0)  travel to Hobart College (4-3) (1-0) in Geneva, New York.  This will be an ECAC Lacrosse League contest that will start at 1 PM.

The Statesmen started the season by traveling to Siena College and won their season opener in a high scoring contest, 18-15.  They next traveled to Syracuse, NY and played in a double header in the Carrier Dome losing to #7/#5 ranked Cornell by a 19-11 score.  They stayed on the road and lost to Binghamton in a defensive battle by a 6-2 margin.  Their first home game was on March 5th and played #16/#15 ranked Colgate.  Hobart upset the Red Raiders in OT by a 9-8 score.  In the team’s first ECAC  contest of the year was against Michigan and the Statesmen came out on top by a 11-7 score.  Canisius was the third home game and Hobart won that contest by a 12-8 score.  Last Friday, the Statesmen traveled to Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, PA and lost to Robert Morris by a 16-12 margin.  In this contest, Hobart’s Junior Attackman Cam Stone set a Hobart D1 record handing out 8 assists and got one goal for nine points tying the Hobart D1 single game scoring record.  Junior Attack Alex Love scored five goals.  He has scored one goal in the last 17 consecutive games and has 15 career hat tricks.  The Robert Morris game started out slow with both teams being tied at 4-4 going into the locker room at halftime.  Hobart scored a goal with Stone getting the assist with 6 seconds left in the period to tie the game.  The Statesmen took the lead at 11:58 in the third period only to see Robert Morris score two goals in the next 51 seconds to go back into the lead.  Love tied the game for Hobart at the 8:58 mark of the third period.  Robert Morris jumped back into the lead with a five goal run including two extra man goals to end the period with a 11-6 lead.  Hobart closed the lead to 11-8 in the fourth period but Robert Morris scored the next two goal.  The Statesmen concluded the games scoring four of the next six goals but Robert Morris iced the game with a goal off a face off with 30 seconds remaining.

On the season, Hobart has scored 75 goals out of 276 shot attempts for a .272 shooting average.  They are scoring 10. 71 goals per game.  Their opposition have hit the back of the net 79 times out of 288 shot attempts for a .274 shot percentage.  The opponents are scoring 11.29 goals per game.  Hobart has 42 goals via the assist and 33 goals coming unassisted.  The Statesmen are shooting 39.4 shots per game and their opponents are taking 41.1 shots per game.  Hobart has scored seven times on the man up unit off of 22 chances for a .318 conversion rate.  The opponents have scored 18 times on the man up situation out of 41 chances for a .431 conversion rate.

The Statesmen have scooped up 215 ground balls with the opposition have gotten to 223 ground balls.  Hobart has turned the ball over 112 times this season and their opponents have turned the ball over 108 times.  The Statesmen have caused 56 turnovers and the opposition have caused 58 turnovers.  Hobart has won 82 off 177 face off chances for a .463 winning percentage.  The opponents have won 95 of 177 face offs for a .537 winning percentage.  Hobart has received 41 penalties this season and the opposition has been flagged 22 times in the 2013 season.

The third quarter is the best scoring session for the Statesmen with 25 goals being scored this year.  They have scored 17 goals in the second period and 15 goals in the opening session.  Only 8 goals have been scored in the fourth period.  Hobart has the one OT goal against Colgate. The oppenents have scored 32 times in the third period and 22 goals in the first period.  The opposition have scored 15 goals in the second period and the opponents have hit the back of the net only 6 times in the final quarter.

Leading the Statesmen in scoring is Alex Love with 26 goals and six assists for 32 points in 2013.  Cam Stone with his 8 assist day now has 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points while Jake McHenry has 14 points with 12 goals and two assists.  Frank Brown has nine points with five goals and four assists and Jake Silberlicht has three goals and three assists for six points.  Peter Zonino has been in goal for all 423 minutes this season.  He has allowed 79 goals with a 11.20 goals against average.  He has been credited with 81 saves and has a .506 save percentage.  Zonino has faced 242 shots this season.

Fairfield has scored 72 goals this year after taking 271 shot attempts for a 9.00 goals per game average and a .266 shot percentage.  Their opponents have scored 73 goals with the opposition has taken 299 shot attempts for a 9.12 goals per game average and a.244 shot percentage. Fairfield has taken 33.9 shots per game and the opponents are averaging 37.4 shots per game.  The Stags have gotten 39 goals via an assist and 33 unassisted goals while the opponents have 38 goals via the assist and 35 unassisted goals.  Fairfield have converted ten extra man goals this season going 10-39 this season for .256 conversion rate while the opponents have scored 9 goals in 27 attempts for a .333 conversion rate.

Fairfield has gotten to 246 ground balls and the opponents have scooped up 269 ground balls.  The Stags have turned the ball over 119 times this year while the opponents are turning the ball over 126 times.  Fairfield’s defense has caused 71 turnovers this season and the opponents have caused the Stags to turn the ball over 60 times.  In the face off circle, Fairfield has won 65 of 169 attempts for a .385 winning percentage and the opponents have been successful 104 times out of 145 chances for a .615 winning percentage.  The Stags have been successful on .841 percentage  of their clears and the opposition has cleared the ball with a .820 percentage. Fairfield has been penalized 31 times this season and the opponents have been flagged 37 times.

The opening stanza has seen Fairfield score 22 times in the 2013 campaign.  The fourth period has been the second most productive period with the Stags hitting the back of the net 20 times and the second period has the Stags scoring 17 times. Fairfield’s least productive period had been the third period with 13 goals being scored.  The opponents best scoring period is the final quarter with 26 goals.  Opponents have scored 18 times the third quarter and 17 times in the second quarter.  The opponents have scored just 12 times in the first period.

Leading the Stags in scoring are Jordan Greenfield with 20 goals and 6 assists for 26 points and Sam Snow is second on the team with 14 goals and five assists for 19 points.  Super Soph Colin McLinden has six goals and nine assists for 15 points.  Tristian Sperry now has 11 points with eight goals and three assists. Nick Guida has nine points with six goals and three assists.  Eric Warden has four goals and four assists for eight points. Super Frosh TJ Neubauer has so far five goals and two assists for seven points. Marshall Johnson has six points with three goals and three assists.  Jack Murphy has played all 480 minutes in goal this year. He has allowed 73 goals for a 9.12 goals against average and getting 95 saves for a .565 save percentage.  Murphy has faced 299 shots so far in this season.

What to expect in this game:  The Stags and Statesmen are playing for the ninth time with Fairfield leading the series five games to three.  The last time the Stags went to Geneva, NY in 2011, the Statesmen won 8-7.  Fairfield leads the series in ECAC games with 4 wins versus three losses.  The one comman opponent is Michigan with the Wolverines being beaten by both teams in a close contest with the Stags and four goal margin by Hobart.  Hobart is 3-0 at home this season and beat a tough Colgate squad.  Yet it lost road games against Robert Morris and Binghamton.  Hobart has me scratching my bald head.  Which team will appear tomorrow?  They give up goals in bunches but score a lot of goals.  Both of their attackmen, Love and Stone, have impressive stats.  Several numbers jump out at me.  They seem to take a lot penalties-41 and their man down unit has been scored on 18 times with the opponents having a .439 conversion rate.  This is a high rate of goals and a very high conversion rate.  The third period the Statesmen have been scored on 32 times this year and the first period has seen 22 goals scored against them.  The Stags extra man unit has been scoring in the last few games versus the difficulties in the first three games.  Need to make the extra man chances work against Hobart as this seems to be a weak point.  The Stags offense should get off to a fast start in both the first and third periods as the Statesmen have given up a bunches of goals in these periods.  The Stags have a great record with turnovers, only having 12 against Quinnipiac and have a 13.8 season average.  Hobart has  16 turnover ratio per game.  Hobart has a low face off percentage and although he did not have a winning mark against Quinnipiac, Michael Roe looked almost like he did in 2012 in being a national leader in face offs in 2012.

Jordan Greenfield has had four hat tricks this season and a career high of five goals and one assist against Quinnipiac.  He has been credited with two game winning goals this season.  His last goal against Michigan was the goal that put the Stags in the lead and he got the game winner against Quinnipiac.  Sam Snow is ready to go and will have his shooting shoes on against Hobart.  Nick Guida has been quiet on the scoring front in the last couple of games and is due to break out. I still believe both Tristian Sperry and Super Soph Colin McLinden have multiple games in them and are ready to strike.  The defense obviously need to shut down Love and Stone.  McKinnley has 12 goals and the defense needs to watch him.

Coach Copelan teams have a 28-12 record in games decided by two or less goals and added to that record in the Quinnipiac game.  I think the team knows that this is a very important game as the ECAC schedule will get very tough in the month of April.  They can not have a slip up in March.  They need to win these games to insure a place in the ECAC playoffs in May.  With the team at full strength, I expect the Stags to win this road game by three goals.  GO STAGS!!   Roger Yergeau ’73

To the Founders and Friends of Fairfield Lacrosse-The last day of winter according to the calendar but today felt like a mid winter day at the start of the Fairfield versus Quinnipiac Men’s Lacrosse game played at Fairfield University’s Alumni Field.  Overcast and chilly at the start but the sun reappeared in the second half.  The Stags jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the second quarter but got two goals late in the fourth quarter to beat the Quinnipiac Bobcats by a final score Fairfield 11-Quinnipiac -10.  Jordan Greenfield lead the Stags with five goals, one assist and three ground balls for a career high of six points. It was another hard fought close win, a cardiac kids performance.

The starting face off has Fairfield’s Junior Michael Roe back at the X battling Quinnipiac’s main face off person Dylan Webster.  Roe wins the face off to start the game off right with Sophomore Middie Bryan Barry on the wing getting to the ground ball and starting the offense.  However the Stags have a forced turnover on its first offensive set and the Bobcats goal keeper Conner Gil gets the ground ball and starts his clear.  Quinnipiac works its first offensive set and the officials call a 30 shot warning at 13:04.  The Bobcats respond by taking a quick shot that goes wide and they retain the ball on the back up.  Trying to restart the offense, Fairfield’s Barry causes a turnover and the Stags clear successfully.  Super Soph Colin McLinden takes the first Fairfield shot of the day that is saved by the Bobcats’ Gil but the Stags get the rebound. The Quinnipiac defense creates a turnover and clears.  The Bobcats take a shot that Junior Goal Keeper Jack Murphy eats up and starts the clear at 10:39.  The Stags offense works the ball but too patiently for the officials and the Stags get a 30 second shot warning at 9:23.  With time almost running out on the 30 second shot warning,  Junior Attack Jordan Greenfield dodges around the cage and puts it home for a 1-0 Stags lead at 9:01 of the first period.  The Greenfield goal is unassisted.  Quinnipiac wins the second face off of the day but  Junior Defender Toby Armour creates a turnover.  Fairfield clears and Junior Middie Shawn Honovich gets the pass and he turns on the after burners to get the ball in the offensive zone and hits Sophomore Attack Tristian Sperry with a picture perfect pass and Sperry buries the shot.  Could not draw it up on the board more perfectly.  The Stags now lead with 8:35 remaining in the period by a 2-0 score.  Michael Roe wins the next face off and Armour gets the ground ball.  The offense is working and Super Frosh TJ Neubauer who returned to action from his injury fires a hard shot that the Bobcats’ Gil saves.  Stags get the rebound and the ball is now in the stick of Greenfield and he scores unassisted with 7:18 left in the period for a 3-0 Fairfield lead. Quinnipiac gets the next face off and now both offenses have chances over the next five plus minutes with shots being saved and turnovers being committed.  With 4:01 showing on the clock, Sophomore Long Pole Kip McMahon, who is getting his first action of the season, corrals a Bobcat turnover and runs down the field. Those long poles gets stars in their eyes when they run down the field and nobody picks them up! McMahon take a hard shot but Gil makes the save. At 2:30 left in the period, the Bobcats coach calls a time out to reset his offense.  On the restart, Quinnipiac works the ball around and they get their second 30 second shot warning of the day at 1:35 but the Bobcats Pat Corcoran puts a shot on net right away unassisted and cuts the lead to 3-1 with 1:32 left in the first period.  Roe wins the face off and gets to the ground ball.  The Stags get into their offensive set and the ball eventually gets to Sophomore Middie Nick Guida who puts it on Greenfield’s stick.  Greenfield scores getting his hat trick early and puts the Stags up by a 4-1 score with just 36 seconds left in the period.  The Bobcats Webster gets the face off and his wing picks up the ground ball but Neubauer who was also on the wing in the face off creates a turnover.  McLinden gets the ground ball twice and Coach Copelan calls timeout with 17 seconds left in the first period.  Copelan draws up a play and on the restart the ball finds it way near the Quinnipiac crease and the ball ends up in the net. Was a Stag in the crease?  The officials huddle and say no!!  McLinden gets the goal unassisted with 7 seconds left for a 5-1 Fairfield lead.  Roe merely ties up Webster on the face off as the period ends.  The score is 5-1 and this is the Stags best offensive first period of the year.

Quinnipiac wins the second quarter face off with the officials calling a violation against Roe. The Bobcats work the ball around and take a wide shot that the Bobcats back up.  No shots are being taken by the Bobcats offense so the officials again call a 30 second shot warning at 13:22.  This time, Sophomore Defender Thomas Lukacovic creates a turnover and the Stags clear.  At the 12 minute mark, Sperry takes a wide shot but the back up Sophomore Middie Drew Federico gets the ball to Junior Middie Eric Warden with just 10 seconds off the clock.  Federico gets the assist and the Stags now lead 6-1.  Roe wins the face off and wing Barry gets the ground ball.  For the next five minutes each offense has a chances but no goals are scored.  After a Bobcats clear with 8:11 left in the half, Quinnipiac starts their offensive set.  Almost a minute later at 7:18, the Bobcats’ Billy Oppenheimer scores a goal with an assist from Michael Sagl.  Now Fairfield leads 6-2.  Roe wins the face off when Webster is called for a violation.  For the next four minutes, both teams have their chances.  Getting into the mix for the first time since he was injured in preseason is Freshman Midfielder Ian Seale from Dallas, Texas.  He is a good player and watch for him once he gets 100%.  At 3:25 a Bobcats shot is blocked  and the Stags have their only failed turnover of the day.  At 2:58, Corcoran with an assist from Tom Gilligan cuts the Fairfield lead in half and now the score is 6-3.  Webster is awarded the face off on a violation on Roe.  The Bobcats take a shot that Murphy saves at 1:36 left in the half and four seconds later, Coach Copelan calls his second time out in the half with ball going out in Quinnipiac’s favor. Copelan is trying to settle down his defense and prevent a last minute goal.  On the restart, the Stags defense is playing aggressively and Quinnipiac turns the ball over with 1:10 left in the second period.  Fairfield clears the ball.  The Stags offense works the ball around and with 31 seconds on the clock, Gil makes a save off of Junior Attack Alex Creamer’s shot.  Now the Quinnipiac coach calls his second time out with 26 seconds remaining.  The Bobcats restart the ball but with four seconds left, Freshman Conor Dalton who is getting a lot of playing time today, picks up the loose ground ball and passes to Cramer who shoots wide with the halftime horn going off.  Stags go into the locker room with a 6-3 lead.

The second half starts and the sun is trying to come out.  Quinnipiac’s Webster wins the face off and picks up the ground ball.  For the next seven minutes, both teams have a flurry of shots but no scores.  At 8:55, Junior D Middie Pet DeSalvo gets a slashing call for a one minute penalty.  The substitute man down defense takes the field for the Stags.  The play tight defense and a Bobcats man up shot is saved by Murphy.  The Stags clear and smartly kill the balance of the one minute penalty. At 7:33 Super Frosh Neubauer fires a cannon into the Bobcats net for an unassisted goal.  Now the Stags lead 7-3.  Roe now wins the face off on a violate by Quinnipiac’s Connor Devane. The Stags offense has a turnover and the Bobcats clear.  Quinnipiac’s offense is working hard.  Fairfield’s Murphy makes a save but the Bobcats retain the ball.  The next shot by Quinnipiac is wide and the Bobcat’s Sagl gets the ground ball.  He passes the ball to Corcoran who gets the ball to face off man Webster and he scores at 5:46 in the third period.  The Bobcats cut the lead to 7-4.  The Bobcats’ Devane is beaten on the face off by Roe and he gets to the ground ball.  Roe passes the ball back to the defense to start the clear but Murphy turns the ball over.  Coach Copelan calls his first time out of the second half to calm down the team.  Quinnipiac restarts the game after the time out and gets the ball into the offensive zone. Lukacovic gets his second caused turnover of the day at 4:50 and Stags clear.  At 3:59, Greenfield has his shot blocked and Gil picks up the loose ground ball.  Gil starts the clear.  Bobcats go into their offensive set and are probing the Stags’ defense.  At 2:53, the Bobcats take a wide shot that they back up.  With 2:22 remaining in the period, Oppenheimer gets his second goal of the day with an assist from Matt Diehl to make it a 7-5 game.  Webster is back in the face off circle and beats Roe with Quinnipiac’s offense looking for another goal before the period ends.  At 1:06 on the clock, a shot is taken wide but the Bobcats keep the ball. With just 46 seconds remaining in the period, the Bobcats’ Jay Binkowski scores with an assist to Sagl.  The Fairfield lead is down to one at 7-6 and Qunnipiac has all the momentum.  Sophomore Lou DiGiacomo comes out to the face off to battle the Bobcats’ Devane. Devane wins the draw and Quinnipiac wants the tying goal before the period ends.  D Middie Barry causes a Bobcat turnover with five seconds left in the period.  The third quarter ends with the Stags clearing to kill the clock and leave the field with a 7-6 lead.

Another close Fairfield lacrosse game! The fourth period starts with Roe winning the face off due to a Webster violation.  The Stags offense works to get the next goal but with 13:37, Fairfield turns the ball over.  The Bobcats get the ground ball and start their clear and strike quickly.  Corcoran scores his third goal of the day unassisted and ties the game at 7-7 with 13:24 showing on the clock.  Webster wins the face off beating Roe and after the Bobcats work the ball around, Sagl takes a wide shot.  Murphy gets to the ground ball and starts the clear.  The ball finds Greenfield and he beats Gil unassisted with 11:35 left in the game. Stags lead 8-7.  Webster wins the draw against Roe and the Bobcats take a shot after working their offensive set.  The shot is blocked and Murphy tracks down the ground ball.  Stags clear and get the ball to Sperry quickly who finds his classmate McLinden who scores the goal to make it a 9-7 game with 9:52 left in the game.  Quinnipiac responds right away. Webster wins the face off and picks up the ground ball. Webster passes to Sagl who puts a hard shot past Murphy with only 6 seconds after the Stags score to make it a one goal game with Fairfield leading 9-8.  On the next face off, Webster does it again and now he passes to Basil Kostaras who ties the game at 9-9 with 8:49 left in the game. Two face off wins and two assists for Webster in just 12 seconds! Fairfield Spphomore Lou DiGiacomo now comes out to the face off circle and Webster is called for a face off violation.  For the next four minutes, both teams try to break the tie with no success.  With 4:49 left in the game, Quinnipiac calls time out.  On the restart, the Bobcats have a turnover and Neubauer gets to the ground ball. In picking up the ground ball, Neubauer is crossed checked in the head and the officials call a one minute non releasable penalty on the Bobcats’ Chris Messina with 3:36 showing on the clock.  The man up unit makes its first apperance of the day.  Greenfield takes a shot that Gil saves but Greenfield gets the rebound ground ball.  Greenfield immediately passes to the cutting Creamer who breaks the tie.  Greenfield is having a monster day with four goals and now one assist. Fairfield is now up 10-9 with 3:33 left on the clock and still have a man up for 30 seconds on the unreleasable penalty.  Binkowski comes out to the face off circle for the Bobcats against Roe.  Binkowski wins the face off and gets the ground ball.  He tries to kill the last part of the penalty. Barry playing tough D, gets a caused turnonver with Perraut getting the loose ground ball.   Clear is good and Warden gets off a good shot that Gil saves.  Now the Bobcats clear and the Quinnipic coach calls his second timeout of the half with 2:06 left in the game.  On the restart, the Bobcats offense move the ball with Sagl taking a shot that Murphy saves and gets the ground ball.  The clear is good  and Coach Copelan uses his second time out at 1:25.  Super Soph McLinden gets to a loose ground ball and passes to Greenfield who notches his fifth goal of the game with McLinden getting an assist.  Fairfield now has a 11-9 lead with 61 seconds to go.  Webster and Roe once again battle for the face off.  Roe wins the draw and gets the ground ball.  He passes to McLinden.  McLinden tries to run around the field in an effort to kill the clock and end the game.  With 32 seconds the swarming Bobcats defense causes a Fairfield turnover.  Quinnipiac’s Carmen French picks up the ground ball and gets the ball to Sagl who feeds Kostaras. He scores with 26 seconds left in the game.  The score is now 11-10.  Roe beats Webster at the face off.  Sperry has the ball and he tries to run out the clock.  Quinnipiac caused a turnover with 5 seconds.  The Bobcat try a desperation shot the Murphy saves.  Game over and the Stags are relieved that they won this game.

Stars of the game:  Jordan Greenfield had a career high of 5 goals and one assist.  He helped get the Stags off to a fast start with 3 goals in the first period.  In the fourth quarter his assist paced the man up unit on its only chance of the day and he scored the game winning goal.  Super Soph Colin McLinden got two goals and one assist.  Michael Roe won 10 face offs and he got to three ground balls.  Brian Barry just plays a steady hard pace the whole game.  He had three caused turnovers and three ground balls.  He was all over the field.  The stars for Quinipiac were Michael Sagl who had with a goal and three assists.  Pat Corcoran had three goals and one assist to lead the Bobcats in scoring.  Goal Keeper Gill Connors had 12 saves for the day, four ground balls and a caused turnover.

The Bobcats outshot the Stags by a 34 to 31 margin.  The Stags did win the ground ball battle by snagging 30 ground balls versus 22 ground balls for Quinnipiac.  Fairfield continues to have minimal turnovers.  The Stags had 12 turnovers versus the Bobcats who had 16 turnovers.  The Bobcats won the face off war getting 13 of the 24 face offs versus the Stags getting 11 of 24 face offs.  The Stags only had one bad clear going 19 of 20 in this category while Quinnipiac had 15 successful clears out of 17 chances.

The Stags returned to action on Saturday, Marc 23rd at 1 PM to play ECAC Lacrosse League game against Hobart College in upstate New York.