FAIRFIELD, Conn.- Regulation was not enough as the Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team battled Fairfield University in a 13-12 double overtime loss on Wednesday evening at Rafferty Stadium. The Pios drop their first game of the season. 

Sacred Heart had seven different goal scorers, including a hat trick from Tucker Spencer and John Murray. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 2-1
Fairfield: 3-0

Stat Leaders:
John Murray: 3 goals, 1 assist
Jake Ward: 1 goal, 3 assists
Tucker Spencer: 3 goals 
Will Moulton: 2 goals
Ryan Rooney: 1 goal, 1 assist

Of Note:
Sacred Heart came out strong to start the game, outscoring Fairfield 5-2 in the opening quarter. Behind two goals from Tucker Spencer and one apiece from Ryan Rooney, John Murray, and Cayden Brodnax, the Pioneers took the lead and held the three-goal edge heading into the second quarter. 

The Stags scored back-to-back goals to pull within one, 5-4, but Will Moulton and Jake Ward answered for the Pios to jump back ahead and take a 7-4 lead. Fairfield scored the final two goals of the half to pull within one, once again, heading into halftime with SHU leading 7-6. 

Despite scoring first in the third quarter, it would be the only goal for SHU in the frame as Fairfield had four straight goals to come from behind and take a 10-8 lead heading into the final quarter. 

Fairfield scored right away to open the fourth, pushing ahead 11-8, but Spencer capped his hat trick to pull within two again. The Stags once again answered and jumped ahead by three, 12-9. However, at 9:36, Garrett Mangels scored his second of the season as the Pioneers scored three straight to tie the game 12-12. 

Sacred Heart's defense came up huge in the final minute of regulation, including Alex Pazienza's 13th save of the day and a diving interception in transition for Will Moulton to maintain the tie and force overtime. 

After a scoreless first overtime period, the teams played a double overtime, where the Stags scored at 1:50 in the period. 

Pazienza made 14 saves in goal for the Pioneers, and Luke Romanek won 16 of 30 face-offs.

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will be back in action on Saturday, February 22, at Stony Brook at noon.