Fairfield's Cipriano Honored by New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association

(Courtesy of Fairfield Sports Information)

FAIRFIELD, Conn.--Charlie Cipriano (Williston Park, N.Y.) became the first member of the Fairfield University men’s lacrosse team to earn the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) player of the week award this season on Tuesday afternoon.  The accolade follows him being selected as the ECAC Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Week, for the third time this season, on Monday.

Fairfield defeated Ohio State 11-9 in the annual Showdown in the Shoe to clinch the third-seed in the inaugural ECAC Championship, May 5-7 at the University of Denver.  The victory propelled the Stags to fourth in the NEILA Coaches Poll, their highest ranking of the season.

Cipriano, a graduate of The Herricks School, had his ninth double-digit save effort of the season as he stopped a dozen shots in the victory. He made five saves in the first half, as he allowed only two goals, to help Fairfield open a 5-2 lead at intermission. Cipriano then stopped seven shots in the second half, with four saves coming in the final stanza. He held the Buckeyes to nine goals, the 10th time this season he has allowed nine or less goals in a game, while also recording three ground balls.

Cipriano finished the week ranked sixth in the nation with a .598 save percentage and is 10th nationally with a 7.47 GAA, both of which are tops among ECAC keepers.  The junior has stopped a single-season career-best 144 shots and is 13th in the nation at 11.08 saves per game. Cipriano is also second on the Stags roster with 27 ground balls.

The Stags, 7-6 overall and 3-2 in ECAC play, wrap-up the regular season at the University of Denver on April 30.