2018 Men’s Lacrosse Year in Review: #54 Fairfield Stags

With the 2018 college lacrosse season complete, it’s time to start looking back at how all 71 teams did during the season, as well as what to expect from each squad for 2019.

We’ve already begun looking back to 2018 with some team recaps thus far and continued our series this week with Furman and Hobart.

So with that, let’s continue the recaps!

#54 Fairfield Stags

Conference: CAA
2018 Record: 4-11 (1-4 in CAA play)
Head coach: Andy Copelan (10th Year)

Statistical Leaders

Goals: Joe Rodrigues (30)
Assists: Colin Burke (23)
Points: Colin Burke (40)
Faceoffs: Will Fox (154-of-280; 55%)
Ground balls: Will Fox (78)
Caused turnovers: J.B. Smith (12)
Goals against average: Sean McKee (10.66 GAA)
Save percentage: Sean McKee (47.2%)

Personnel Losses

Key seniors departing: A Joe Rodrigues (30 Gs, 8 As, 20 GBs), LSM J.B. Smith (24 GBs, 12 CTs, 1 A), FOGO Will Fox (55% faceoff draws, 78 GBs, 1 G, 1 A), D Nick Panara (9 GBs, 8 CTs), LSM Spencer Noonan (26 GBs, 11 CTs, 2 Gs), A Drew Murray (8 Gs, 8 As), A/M Charlie Horning (4 Gs, 2 As, 10 GBs)
Senior scoring departing: 70 of 221 points (31.7%)
Senior starts lost: 64 of 150 (42.7%)

Season Summary

Ever since Fairfield’s 12-4 record in the last season of the ECAC in 2014, the Stags have slowly gotten worse as the years have gone. Despite hosting the CAA Tournament in 2015 and making it to the CAA Championship in 2016, Andy Copelan’s group took a step back with a 5-9 record in 2017.

In 2018, Fairfield took another step in the wrong direction with a 4-11 overall record and 1-4 CAA mark. But despite the worst record since 2008 in Ted Spencer’s final season as head coach, the Stags were very competitive in most of their games, with 13 of their games being decided by five goals or less and 2-5 in games with a margin of three goals or fewer. Four of their final six games were decided by a goal, but Fairfield went 1-3 in that stretch.

Junior Colin Burke led the way with 40 points at attack, but has yet to get back to his CAA Rookie of the Year form. Joe Rodrigues finished his Fairfield career with 38 points and a team-high 30 goals, while sophomore attackman Dylan Beckwith and junior midfielder Jack Brennan each recorded 27 points. Four other players recorded 12 or more points, including sophomore midfielder Travis Ford.

The Stag defense was a senior-laden one with J.B. Smith and Nick Panara leading the way, with sophomore Andrew Murrow completing the group. Sophomore Sean McKee got the majority of the minutes in goal, with freshman Max McGuire starting four games in the middle of the year.

Looking Ahead

For a team that didn’t score a ton of goals the past two seasons, losing Rodrigues and two contributors in Drew Murray and Charlie Horning will hurt. Burke will be a senior, and will need younger guys like Brennan, Beckwith, Ford, and freshman midfielder Taylor Strough to step up and produce more points.

But the bigger question will be regarding the defense. With two of their starting defensemen gone, Murrow will need some help around him. Look for freshman George Elmquist and sophomore Jake Tymon to get some more time, as well as sophomore Brian Cosgrove and freshman Lucas Pedersen.

The departure of Will Fox also leaves a significant hole at the faceoff X. Sophomore Bill McMenamin went 10-of-36 in four appearances. The team also has junior Liam Lynch and freshman Frankie Labetti capable of taking draws. Finally in goal, McKee looks to be the leader to start, but don’t count out McGuire in possibly taking that spot in the fall.

Here’s who the Stags will be adding to their roster for next year.*

*Compiled from a multitude of websites. Schools usually officially announce their recruiting class during the fall semester.