On Sunday, March 2nd, Fairfield Men's Club Lacrosse took on UMass Amherst in a highly competitive fourth game of their season. Entering the match-up with a strong 3-0 record, the Stags fought hard to secure a 4-0 start, solidifying their dominance on the field. Fairfield's starting lineup featured sophomore attack Tyler Sacchetti, senior attacks Jack McCarvill and Zander Ritson-Parsons, junior midfielders Harry Griff and Andrew Epifania, senior midfielder Ryan Willard, junior face-off Kevin Jordan, freshman defensive midfielder James McDermott, senior long-stick midfielder Colin Richards, junior defender James Tyras, sophomore defender Johnathan Bourfarah, senior defender Nick Andreades, and senior goalie Cameron Perna.
    The game opened with Kevin Jordan winning the face-off, setting up an early goal by Harry Griff to put Fairfield on the board. The Stags moved the ball well and built strong momentum, but UMass quickly adjusted and responded with a goal of their own. Fairfield's defense held firm, forcing UMass to take shots from the outside. At the end of the first quarter, UMass held a narrow 2-1 lead.
    In the second quarter, Fairfield increased the tempo and created more scoring opportunities, but UMass remained in control, leading 5-3 at halftime. Determined to take back the game, Fairfield came out strong in the second half. Harry Griff struck first, reigniting the team's momentum. The Stags fought hard to even the score, and by the end of the third quarter, they had reclaimed the lead, 6-5.
    In the fourth quarter, Fairfield's defense was tested as UMass pressed forward. Goalie Cameron Perna made several key saves to preserve the lead. With the score at a tight 7-6 in the final minutes, smart play became crucial. Defender Johnathan Bourfarah carried the ball up field, maintaining possession before Fairfield called a strategic timeout with 1:20 left on the clock. Out of the break, Ryan Willard capitalized on a well-organized play, scoring the final goal to secure
an 8-6 victory.
    Looking ahead, Fairfield is gearing up for key match-ups against Holy Cross and Providence. "We're excited for the opportunity to avenge last year's losses against them," said senior Colin Richards. With their strong performance against UMass, the Stags are prepared for the competitive battles ahead this season.