Entering their second year in the Great Western Lacrosse League, Fairfield’s men’s lacrosse team is aiming high.
“This year, we want to win the league,” said head coach Ted Spencer. “We’re the favorites to knock off Notre Dame, win the GWLL and go to the NCAAs and that’s our main goal.
The Stags are already the subject of a lot of preseason hype, receiving 11 votes in an Inside Lacrosse Division I coach’s poll. Three Fairfield players, sophomores Troy Bamann and Peter Vlahakis and senior Rob Scipioni, also received honorable mentions to the Division I All-American team.
Fairfield is returning eight of last year’s eleven starters, including all of last year’s All-League selections. After shocking the Great Western Lacrosse League by finishing second in 2001, there truly is no limit to the aspirations of the team this year.
The way to the top will be hard, however, as the Stags’ schedule is marked with several nationally ranked lacrosse powerhouses such as Notre Dame, Loyola, Hostra, Penn State, North Carolina, and Ohio State.
The team has undergone some changes, including losing its assistant coach to the head coach’s position at Quinnipiac. The new assistant coach is former professional lacrosse player Andy Towers, a veteran of the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse.
Towers will take over the offensive coaching duties, whereas Spencer will focus on defense.
“We’ve had some changes,” Spencer said. “We have a great new addition in Andy Towers. Andy will help us get to the next level.”
Fairfield will benefit from a great returning team, including arguably one of the best freshman classes of all time from last season.
“We have a really outstanding sophomore group,” said Spencer. “We also have a lot of maturity in our upper classes that will help to take us to the next level. We have great seniors who are great leaders, and great captains.”
Fairfield’s sophomore class is led by 2001 MAAC rookie of the year Troy Bamann, who lead the team in scoring last year with 23 goals and 26 assists in just 15 games.
Captaining the team this year are seniors Marc Torrey, Brian Holland, Shaun Graham, and Joe Beaudet.
Others, like junior goaltender C.J. Kemp, will provide the team with invaluable experience.
Fairfield starts off the season this Saturday, Feb. 23 at Holy Cross. In their last meeting, Fairfield won 15-6.
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