The last time Fairfield played Dartmouth, the Stags found themselves in an early hole and unable to mount a comeback in a high octane, offensive shoot-out that ended in a 14-12 loss.
Similarly, the last time the Stags were on the field, they were in the middle of a skirmish with Providence following a game in which they allowed the Friars to have a comeback of their own, barely hanging on for a two-goal victory after holding a commanding 5-1 lead at halftime lead.
Following Fairfield’s victory 11-8 over Dartmouth in New Hampshire this weekend, one thing is for certain: Consider the lesson learned.
The Stags stormed out of the gate early once more, paced by back-to-back goals from junior attackman Travis Nelson and Brian Stanton ’07. The early offensive explosion gave Fairfeld a 5-1 lead following the end of the first quarter.
“It’s always really important to get out to a quick lead like that,” said junior midfielder Dan Boudreau. “Especially on the road, [it’s important] to try to take the momentum in the game.”
Dartmouth, though, would not go away quietly. After Chris Ajemian ’09 scored to put the Stags up five goals, the Big Green would score four consecutive goals over the course of the next two quarters to make it a one-point game.
“It’s always important to keep the momentum,” said midfielder Dan Boudreau ’08. “Coach [Spencer] stressed at half the fact that we needed to come out and get the next two goals and really take control of the game.”
However, with the Providence experience fresh in their minds, the Stags found themselves in a similar position.
Stanton scored with 4:30 to go in the third quarter to stifle a portion of the Dartmouth momentum heading into the fourth quarter.
In the game’s final period, the veteran midfielders took over, literally and figuratively.
Boudreau and Greg Downing ’07 picked up where they left off, each tallying a goal over a minute and a half span with 5:24 remaining in the game, adding to the Fairfield lead and putting the Stags in a position to win.
Downing’s, second goal of the game and fourth of the season.
With the game winding down, Dartmouth had one more attempt at a lead left in them. The Big Green’s Ari Sussman ’10 added his second and third goals in the fourth, pulling the team within three goals of the Stags with 1:49 to play.
On this day, though, the Stags would not be denied.
In addition to great defensive play and goaltending, senior captain Mike Bocklet scored on a great pass from Downing to push the lead to three goals at 11-8, a lead the Stags would not relinquish.
Senior goaltender Mike Kruger was a large part of how the Stags were able to hold off the comeback. In his second victory of the season, Kruger stopped five shots in the fourth quarter.
“He’s a leader on the defensive end at all times,” said Boudreau of Kruger. “He’s always vocal.”
Another important factor was the Stags’ defensive successes on man-down defense. Following a game in which they allowed Providence only one man-up goal in ten changes, Fairfield again held Dartmouth to only three goals in six chances.
Most importantly, four of those six penalties came in the fourth quarter and only one resulted in a Big Green goal.
In the 2005 campiagn Fairfield also started the season 2-0 and eventually went on to win 11 games, capped by an NCAA berth.
“It’s a great thing,” said senior midfielder Charlie Keinath. “To go into New Hampshire [to play Dartmouth] and come out with a win gets the momentum going for the season.”
Keinath isn’t alone, with a great start already in the bag, everyone has high hopes.
“This year’s [team] is as good as any,” said Boudreau. “The ultimate goal is always to win a national championship and we believe the team has everything we need to try and make a run.”
The team now enters ECAC play with a Saturday game against Rutgers. The March 10 contest with the Scarlet Knights starts a three-game home stand that includes games against out-of-conference opponents Hobart and Harvard.
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