- Chris Jastrzembski
Previewing Fairfield's 2022 men's lacrosse schedule
The Fairfield Stags are the 33rd team in our 2022 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the fifth team from the CAA. Fairfield went 2-9 overall in 2021 and 0-8 in CAA play. The Stags failed to make the CAA Tournament.
Here's their entire 2022 spring schedule:
WHO'S IN?
Stony Brook Seawolves (2/12)
Wagner Seahawks (2/19)
Villanova Wildcats (2/26)
Harvard Crimson (3/5)
Quinnipiac Bobcats (3/8)
Binghamton Bearcats (3/12)
St. John's Red Storm (3/22)
WHO'S OUT?
Lafayette Leopards (13-11 W)
Merrimack Warriors (14-11 W in 2020)
Georgetown Hoyas (25-12 L in 2020)
LIU Sharks (19-15 W in 2020)
Siena Saints (21-12 W in 2020)
CIRCLE THESE DATES
2/12 at Stony Brook: Prior to the shutdown of the 2020 season, Fairfield's offense recorded at least 12 goals in every game and showed potential. They scored less than 10 goals in four contests last year. But despite the potential on offense, the defense can give up a ton of goals in games. They gave up 15 or more goals seven times last year, all losses. Stony Brook has a good offense and is capable of scoring at least 15, which they did when they last met in 2020. Fairfield won that game.
3/5 vs. Harvard: The Crimson did not play at all in 2021 and hopefully this will be Gerry Byrne's first full season as head coach of the program. Harvard went 2-2 in 2020, with their win over Fairfield their last game before shutting down. There's a lot of promise up in Cambridge and perhaps we see more of that this year.
4/2 vs. Hofstra: Fairfield hasn't won a conference game since beating Hofstra 5-4 back on April 6, 2018. They're winless in their last 16 conference games and need some sort of jolt to keep them in CAA contention. Head coach Andrew Baxter went through his first year of conference play last year so he has a better idea of what to expect heading into this year. The Stags need some help on offense with Taylor Strough (23 points) and Trent Moran (10 points) as their only returning players with double-digit point totals last year.
4/23 vs. Towson: Last year's meeting with the Tigers was tough. Up 10-6 with 4:31 left in the third quarter, the Stags gave up the next six goals to go down by two. Despite stopping the run with 5:08 left in regulation, Fairfield couldn't find the tying goal and lost.