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Saturday, April 26, could be designated Lacrosse Day on the campus of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´. The nationally ranked Fairfield men’s lacrosse team will close out regular season play; a groundbreaking ceremony for a new lacrosse stadium will be held; 11 senior men’s lacrosse players will be celebrated; and a former lacrosse coach will be honored. (Pictured is a renduring of the new Rafferty Stadium, which has a planned opening of February 2015 ).

At noon on Saturday, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Rafferty Stadium will take place near the Walsh Athletic Center.  The project has been made possible by a generous leadership gift from former ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ trustee, Lawrence Rafferty’64, his daughter Kathleen Rafferty Hay ’03, and his son Michael Rafferty. The complex, which has a planned opening in February 2015 will have seating for 3,500 fans with bleachers spanning both sidelines. The playing surface will be high-quality artificial turf with state-of-the-art lighting and scoreboard. The facility will also include a permanent structure that will house a press box, VIP suites, concession stand and locker rooms. Speaking at the event will be ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., current Head Coach Andy Copelan, Fairfield Athletics Director Gene Doris, and a representative of the Rafferty family. Prior to the ceremony, there will be a Friends of Lacrosse reception.

At 1 p.m. the 14/17 Fairfield Stags will close out regular season play, taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lessing Field.  Tickets may be purchased on game day at Lessing Field. During a brief pre-game ceremony, 11 seniors will be recognized including Toby Armour, New Haven, CT; Geordie Carrick, Hingham, MA; Alex Cramer, Annapolis, MD; Gary Davies, Orchard Park, NY; Peter DeSalvo, Eastchester, NY; Shawn Honovich, Cortlandt Manor, NY; Conor Maniatty, Avon, CT; Jack Murphy, Cohasset, MA; Greg Perraut, Bethesda, MD; Michael Roe, Lutherville, MD; and Eric Warden, Glen Mills, PA.

At halftime, Fairfield will honor former men’s lacrosse coach Ted Spencer, as he is being inducted into the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ Athletics Hall of Fame.  Spencer, from Danville, California, served as the head coach for 13 years, the longest tenure in program history. Spencer posted 93 victories, including four seasons of 10 or more victories. He led the Stags to an NCAA appearance in 2002 and 2005 after leading the team to the Great Western Lacrosse League championship in those campaigns.

His peers recognized him as the Coach of the Year in the Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) in 2002 and 2005 as well as the MAAC in 1996. Currently, Spencer coaches the Monte Vista High School Mustangs in Danville, California, and is the president and managing director of Blue Chip Lacrosse, a successful recruiting camp enterprise.