Fairfield Closes Out Air Force in ECAC Opener
from press release
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University
men’s lacrosse team scored the final four goals of the game
to defeat visiting ECAC Lacrosse League foe Air Force on Friday
night at Alumni Field. The victory gives the Stags their
sixth consecutive ECAC season opening win, in as many seasons, as
they improve to 3-2 overall, while the Falcons fall to 1-4 on the
season and 0-1 in league play.
Air Force took a 2-1 lead into the intermission which lasted nearly
five minutes into the second-half until John Snellman (Norwalk,
Conn.) deposited a Max Trunz (Upper Brookville, Conn.) into the
back of the net to tie the score, 2-2. The game remained tied
for less than two minutes until Vinny Sandtorv gave the Falcons the
lead back with an unassisted goal. Mike Crampton gave Air
Force a two-goal lead 72 seconds later with an unassisted tally and
a 4-2 edge with 7:27 to play in the third quarter.
Nick Baglio (Brightwaters, N.Y.) started the Stags comeback with
5:36 remaining in the third quarter as he put home a pass from
Trunz to make the score 4-3 Air Force. Doug Kuring (New
Milford, Conn.) took control of the Stags offense in the fourth
quarter, tying the game 4-4, 1:47 into the fourth with an
unassisted goal. Then just over seven minutes later he would
put home what would prove to be the game-winning tally, as Trunz
recorded his third assist of the night. Shawn Honovich
(Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) would wrap-up the scoring on a goal with
1:39 remaining, as he ran his defender behind the cage from the far
side line and put home his lone goal of the game.
Charlie Cipriano (Williston Park, N.Y.) earned the win in net for
the Stags, making nine saves on the night. He made three
saves in each of the first three quarters of the game, but did not
face a shot on net in the final period, as Fairfield allowed Air
Force only three shots in the final stanza. Brian Wilson took
the loss in net for Air Force as he made eight saves in the
game.
Both teams won seven face-offs on the night, with the Stags
controlling 6-9 in the second-half, including 3-4 in the final
quarter. The squads both also cleared well, with the
Stags going 18-20 and the Falcons going 17-20.
Trunz had a game-high three points, all assists, while both Kuring
and Snellman touched net twice on the evening.
For the fourth time this season Fairfield did not allow a man-down
goal, holding Air Force scoreless on three chances, 2:30. The
Stags scored on 1-5 in their own man-up chances on the
evening. The Falcons finished the game with 25 turnovers, 12
of which were caused by the Stags, with Clay Wells (Doylestown,
Pa.) leading the way with four. The Stags committed 17
turnovers, eight of which were caused, with half coming from Matt
Puleo. The Stags had less ground balls, 32-25, in the game,
but had a 10-5 edge in the category in the fourth quarter.
Fairfield returns to action on Monday afternoon when it hosts
Vermont at 3 p.m. on Alumni Field.
