Rutgers Drops ECAC Opener to Fairfield
Mar 10 | Men's Lacrosse
FAIRFIELD, Mass. - Despite three goals by Colin Checcio, the Rutgers men's lacrosse team (1-2, 0-1) dropped a 14-10 decision to ECAC opponent Fairfield (3-0, 1-0). The Scarlet Knights out-shot the Stags, 38-36, and were able to get within two goals of the lead, but could not pull out the win in what was the conference-opener for both teams. Checcio has now recorded a hat trick in two-consecutive games and has a team-leading eight goals on the season.
Jeff Rommel (Syracuse, N.Y.), Chris Doctor (Skaneateles, N.Y.) andfreshman Justin Pennington (Flemington, N.J.) each finished with two goals against the Stags. Freshman Gerhard Buehning (Essex Fells, N.J.) rounded-out the scoring for Rutgers with the first goal of his college career.
Rutgers got on the board first with Checcio's first goal of the game to give Rutgers its only lead of the game. Fairfield then went on to score two unanswered goals and RU trailed by one after the first quarter. Fairfield's offense then erupted for six goals in the second period of play to take an 8-2 lead at the half.
The Scarlet Knights scored five third quarter goals and Rommel's score at the 12:11 mark in the fourth quarter cut the Stags' lead to 10-8. However, four goals by Fairfield in the final quarter of play secured the win over Rutgers.
Lyle Farrar (Lexington, Va.) got the start in goal for the Scarlet Knights, finishing with six saves before sophomore Pete Pantages (Roseland, N.J.) entered the game at the beginning of the second half. Pantages made two saves against the Stags.
Fairfield's Dan Boudreau scored a game-high four goals, while teammate Mike Bocklet added three scores and three assists for the Stags. Goalie Michael Kruger finished with 11 saves.
The Scarlet Knights will be back in action when they host in-state rival Princeton on Tuesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Yurcak Field.
Lacrosse Game Summary (Final)
2007 Rutgers Men's Lacrosse
Rutgers at Fairfield (March 10 at Fairfield, Mass.)
Rutgers (1-2, 0-1) at Fairfield (3-0, 1-0)
Date: March 10, 2007 Attendance: 750
Goals by Period: 1 2 3 4 Tot
Rutgers 1 1 5 3 10
Fairfield 2 6 2 4 14
RUTGERS Scoring:
Goals: Checcio, Colin 3; Rommel, Jeff 2; Pennington, Justin 2; Doctor, Chris 2; Buehning, Gerhard 1.
Assists: Checcio, Colin 1; Dugan, Mike 1, Gaines, Matt 1; Rommel, Jeff 1; White, Chris 1.
FAIRFIELD Scoring:
Goals: Boudreau, Dan 4; Bocklet, Mike 3; Nelson, Travis 2; Finnerty, Brendan 2; Downing, Greg 1; Manley, Chris 1; Olson, Jake 1.
Assists: Bocklet, Mike 3; Nelson, Travis 3; Ajemian, Chris 1; Downing, Greg 1; Finnerty, Brendan 1; Manley, Chris 1.
