Lessing Field
Encyclopedia
Lessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse
and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University
in Fairfield, Connecticut
. It is home to the Fairfield Stags
men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams. Previously named Varsity Field it was renovated in 2002 including the installation of high-durability sod, a new irrigation and drainage systems, new lights for night games and new stands with capacity for 600 fans. Lessing Field is named in honor of Stephen Lessing '76, a former member of the Fairfield Stags men's tennis team and current member of the Fairfield University Board of Trustees whose generosity allowed for the stadium renovations.
.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. It is home to the Fairfield Stags
Fairfield Stags
The Fairfield Stags are the athletic programs representing Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Most of the programs are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and classified as Division I-AAA in the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams. Previously named Varsity Field it was renovated in 2002 including the installation of high-durability sod, a new irrigation and drainage systems, new lights for night games and new stands with capacity for 600 fans. Lessing Field is named in honor of Stephen Lessing '76, a former member of the Fairfield Stags men's tennis team and current member of the Fairfield University Board of Trustees whose generosity allowed for the stadium renovations.
MAAC Championships
Lessing Field has played host to numerous conference championships, including the 2004 MAAC Women's Soccer Championship, 2005 MAAC Women's Lacrosse Championship, 2006 MAAC Men's Soccer Championship, and both the 2007 MAAC Men's and Women's Soccer Championships. The finals for all the 2006 and 2007 Championship events were aired live on ESPNUESPNU
ESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
.
Memorable moments
- The Goal: On April 16, 2005, playing before 1,376 fans at Lessing Field, the No. 20 Fairfield Stags men's lacrosseFairfield Stags men's lacrosseThe Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the ECAC Lacrosse League of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field. The team was nationally ranked in 2005 , 2006 and 2007 and competed in the NCAA...
team was knotted at 11 goals apiece with eight seconds left in a game against the No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting IrishNotre Dame Fighting IrishNotre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
. The Stags' three-time All-American midfielder Greg Downing '07Greg DowningGreg Downing is a professional lacrosse player with the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse and with the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League. He was selected to participate in the 2008 and 2009 MLL All-Star Games.-International:Downing is a member of the U.S. Indoor Lacrosse Men’s...
took possession of the ball out of a timeout, beat his defender and rocketed a shot past the Notre Dame goalie to give the Stags the upset win. "The Goal", which was Downing's fifth of the day, came with three seconds left on the clock and gave the Stags a program record-tying seventh straight win. Four weeks later before 2,486 fans at Alumni Field, the No. 17 Stags led by a hat-trick from Tom Werney '05 upset the No. 12 Denver PioneersUniversity of DenverThe University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
to clinch their second GWLLGreat Western Lacrosse LeagueThe Great Western Lacrosse League, also known as the GWLL, was a NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse athletic conference that existed from 1994 to 2009...
Championship and berth in the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse ChampionshipThe 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 35th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament...
.
- On November 5, 2006, in front of a national audience on ESPNUESPNUESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
the Fairfield Stags men's soccerFairfield Stags men's soccerThe Fairfield Stags men's soccer team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field on the campus of Fairfield University...
team won the 2006 MAACMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceThe Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
Soccer Championship and earned a berth to the 2006 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship2006 Division I Men's College CupThe 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup Final Four was held at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher-seeded...
with a 1-0 victory over St. Peter's College. The lone goal came during the 69th minute when Tom Clements '08 sent a free kick to the left corner where Alex Cunliffe '07 found room inside the box. Drawing a double-team about 25 yards from the near post, Cunliffe sent a cross to the feet of Mike Troy '07. Troy dribbled along the end line until he sent a shot on goal from 10 yards which deflected off the St. Peter's goalkeeper and into the corner of the net for the game-winning score.