Dragons Drop 12-11 Decision at No. 15 Fairfield

Saturday, March 22

Fairfield, Conn.

12 p.m.

Drexel University

4-5, 1-1CAA

No. 15 Fairfield

9-0, 2-0CAA

Drexel

Fairfield

Dragons Drop 12-11 Decision at No. 15 Fairfield

3/22/2025 1:59:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn - No. 15 Fairfield remained unbeaten as the Stags edged Drexel, 12-11, in a Coastal Athletic Association game on Saturday afternoon. Drexel trailed by five early, but had a 5-0 run midway through the second half to take a lead. However, the Stags closed the game with two goals over the last 5:18 to escape with the win.

Drexel (4-5, 1-1) trailed 7-5 early in the third quarter, but ripped off five-straight goals to take the lead. Five different players scored in the stretch. Conor Hooley rifled a shot into the far right corner with 3:34 to give the Dragons their first lead of the night. Hooley then set up Alec Tulio in the waning seconds of the third to make it a two-goal lead. Early in the fourth, Hooley was at it again, finishing off a feed from Jack Joyner to make it 10-8. Fairfield (9-0, 2-0) countered with a three goal run of its own to tie the game. Will Farrell broke the tie, putting the Dragons in front 11-10, with a man-up goal from the left wing with six minutes to play. The Stags would hold the Dragons off the board the rest of the way. Jake Gilbert tied the game when he drove in from the left side and scored on a short right handed shot from the left side of the cage. One minute later, Luke Okupski fired home what proved to be the game-winner. Fairfield's Owen Hirsch came up with a big stop at the three minute mark on Joyner. Drexel's Brendan Donnelly answered with a save on the other end. The Stags had another late possession, but Connor McVicker came up with a caused turnover and a ground ball giving Drexel another chance in the last minute. The Dragons' offense got the ball to Joyner, but his shot was blocked with 11 seconds to go as Fairfield won their ninth straight games.

The Stags scored the first three goals of the contest and held the Dragons scoreless in the first quarter. Drexel broke the drought when Max Semple found Ty Gougler just after a Fairfield penalty expired, making it 3-1. The Stags answered with three straight scores in a span of less than four minutes to take what appeared to be a comfortable 6-1 lead with 10:08 to play in the first half. That would be the last goal of the half for the Stags, as the Dragons closed the first 30 minutes with four straight goals. Tristan Plotts started the scoring with a goal on the crease after a nice feed from Witt Crawford. Matt Martin, Crawford and Joyner added goals to send the Dragons to the locker room down by just a goal at 6-5.

Martin and Hooley each had a pair of goals to lead the Dragons. Crawford had three assists to go along with his 16th goals of the year. Joyner and Semple each added three points. Donnelly turned aside 13 shots in his second-straight start.

Five different Stags each scored two goals. Rob Moore handed out five assists as the Stags outshot Drexel, 40-37.

The Dragons are back in action next weekend. Drexel will host Towson in a pivotal CAA game beginning at noon at Vidas Field.