Fairfield's Burke Tallies Career Hi 7 Points in Loss to Towson; Season Finale at Delaware

Fairfield University-s leading rookie Colin Burke tallied a career-high seven points, but it was not enough to thwart No. 10 nationally-ranked Towson on Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The 18-11 setback was the Stags men's lacrosse team's first Colonial Athletic Association loss of the spring. Fairfield now stands at 3-1 in the CAA, and 7-7 overall. Towson, the defending CAA champion, is 11-2 this season, and like the Stags has a 3-1 CAA mark. Fairfield travels to Delaware to close out the regular season this Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. A Stags win over the Blue Hens would give Fairfield a share of the CAA regular season title. A Fairfield victory coupled by a Hofstra win over Towson would give the Stags top seed and the right to host the CAA Championship on May 5-7. A Towson win would secure the top seed and home-field advantage for the Tigers regardless of other results around the league next weekend. Burke-s seven-point performance included five goals and two assists, and moved the Long Island freshman into elite status in the Fairfield record books. With 51 total points (37 goals, 14 assists) this spring, Burke joins Colin McLinden -15 as the only two Stags since 1999 to record a 50-point season. Burke is just two points shy of the program-s freshman scoring record of 53 points accumulated by J.T. Groarke in 1996. With 37 goals, Burke is just one tally behind the Fairfield rookie record of 38 tallies racked up by Spencer Steele in the 1997 season. In Saturday-s contest, Nico Panepinto reached a pair of personal career bests with three goals and four total points. Charlie Horning, Drew Murray (man-up) and Conor Dalton all added single tallies for Fairfield, while Horning, Murray and Dave Fleming each handed out one assist. Horning also reeled in four ground balls from his attack position. Will Fox headed the efforts at the faceoff ?X- with a 16-for-24 showing. The reigning CAA Rookie of the Year also collected seven ground balls. Joe DeLasho spelled his classmate Fox and won three draws, while senior midfielders TJ Neubauer and Joe Guidarelli aided the cause with five ground balls apiece. Tyler Behring made four saves in the Fairfield cage. In front of the junior goalkeeper, Logan Williams and Matt Borda each collected one ground ball with one caused turnover. Mike Lynch paced the Towson attack with five goals and an assist, while Spencer Park scored three goals with two helpers and Ryan Drenner potted a hat trick. Goalkeeper Tyler White made five saves. The Tigers held a 41-33 advantage in shots and 35-29 edge in ground balls. Murray-s man-up marker was the Stags- lone extra-man goal in three attempts. Fairfield was not penalized in the game.