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2025-05-10T04:49:03Z

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{{Short description|Sporting stadium in Connecticut, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue |
| stadium_name = Lessing Field |
| nickname = |
|image = Fairfield Lessing Field.JPG
| location = [[Fairfield University]]<br>[[Fairfield, Connecticut]] |
| broke_ground = 2002
| opened = 2003|
| closed = |
| demolished = |
| owner = [[Fairfield University]] |
| operator = |
| surface = |
| construction_cost= |
| architect = |
| tenants = [[Fairfield Stags]] (2003-present) <br> [[Fairfield Prep]] Jesuits (2003-present) |
| seating_capacity = 600 |
| website = {{URL|https://fairfieldstags.com/facilities/lessing-field/5|fairfieldstags.com/lessing-field}}
}}

'''Lessing Field''' is a multi-purpose and [[soccer-specific stadium]] on the campus of [[Fairfield University]] in [[Fairfield, Connecticut]]. It is home to the [[Fairfield Stags]] men's and women's 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lessing Field - Facilities|url=https://fairfieldstags.com/facilities/lessing-field/5|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Fairfield University Athletics|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.fairfieldmirror.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=40e68c24-6664-42d9-a5c7-1944306980b0 Ali Bart, ''Lessing field to host upcoming MAAC tournaments,'' Fairfield Mirror, September 23, 2004.]</ref>

==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 [[ESPNU]].<ref>[http://www.fairfieldstags.com/media/facilities_page Fairfield Stags facilities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710234413/http://www.fairfieldstags.com/media/facilities_page |date=2011-07-10 }}</ref>

==Memorable moments==
*'''The Goal:''' On April 16, 2005, playing before 1,376 fans at Lessing Field, the No. 20 [[Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse]] team was knotted at 11 goals apiece with eight seconds left in a game against the No. 11 [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish]]. The Stags' three-time All-American midfielder [[Greg Downing|Greg Downing '07]] 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.<ref>[http://media.www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/storage/paper148/news/2005/04/21/Sports/Seventh.Heaven.Mens.Lacrosse.Stuns.Fightin.Irish.In.Dramatic.Fashion-932594.shtml Dan Akeson, ''Seventh heaven: Men's lacrosse stuns Fightin' Irish in dramatic fashion,'' Fairfield Mirror, April 21, 2005]</ref> 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 [[University of Denver|Denver Pioneers]] to clinch their second [[Great Western Lacrosse League|GWLL]] Championship and berth in the [[2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship|2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fairfieldstags.com/sports/m-lacros/recaps/050805aaa.html |title=Fairfield University Athletics |access-date=2007-12-13 |archive-date=2011-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710234916/http://www.fairfieldstags.com/sports/m-lacros/recaps/050805aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*On November 5, 2006, in front of a national audience on [[ESPNU]] the [[Fairfield Stags men's soccer]] team won the 2006 [[Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference|MAAC]] Soccer Championship and earned a berth to the [[2006 Division I Men's College Cup|2006 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fairfieldstags.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/110506aaa.html |title=Fairfield University Athletics |access-date=2007-12-15 |archive-date=2008-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705231953/http://www.fairfieldstags.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/110506aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website}}

{{Fairfield University}}
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[[Category:Fairfield Stags lacrosse]]
[[Category:Fairfield Stags soccer]]
[[Category:College lacrosse venues in the United States]]
[[Category:College soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Lacrosse venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Fairfield Stags sports venues]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2003]]

Lessing Field - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: add {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}