On Saturday afternoon, the Stags men’s lacrosse team completed a disappointing home season with a loss against Loyola on Lessing Field. The loss brought the Stags home record to 1-5.
Two weeks prior on the same field, the Georgetown Hoyas narrowly escaped Fairfield with a 10-8 victory. “We seemed to rise to challenge against Georgetown, and I’m confident that the boys will do the same (against Loyola) this week,” said Head Coach Ted Spencer prior to the game.
But, unfortunately for Spencer and the Stags, the team was not able to rise to the occasion and seemed to be out-played by the Loyola squad.
While many of the aspects of this week’s game were similar – a nationally ranked opponent and a televised game – the result was another bitter loss and a lackluster effort, as Loyola soundly defeated Fairfield, 13-4.
The loss is Fairfield’s eighth consecutive defeat, the longest such streak since the program’s inaugural season in 1993 when the Stags finished with a 2-10 record.
Loyola appeared dominant from the outset of the game, as the Greyhounds scored eight unanswered goals in the first quarter to secure an 8-0 lead.
Greyhounds’ attack man Collin Finnerty scored two goals in a span of eight seconds in the first quarter to give the Greyhounds an early advantage it would not relinquish. Finnerty was one of four Loyola players to finish with two goals on the afternoon.
The Stags’ youthful offense struggled mightily against Loyola’s “no-slide” defense.
Fairfield did not record a goal until Travis Nelson scored at 11:09 in the third quarter.
Fairfield is now 3-8 overall this season and 1-4 in the ECAC conference schedule. The Stags close out the season with two road games, both at ECAC foes. Fairfield travels to UMass on Wednesday and then finishes the season at St. John’s on Saturday April 26.
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