Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/16/21
From Press Release
Fairfield Head Coach Andrew Baxter has announced that Frankie Labetti (Moorestown) and Taylor Strough will return to Fairfield University Men’s Lacrosse for the 2022 season. Both student-athletes completed their undergraduate studies in the spring of 2021 and will continue their education as graduate students at the University.
The Stags will also add Mikey Drake (Salesianum School), who is a 2021 graduate of Notre Dame and a four-year member of the Irish men’s lacrosse program.
One of the most prolific faceoff men in Fairfield Lacrosse history, Labetti ranks third in program history with a .541 win percentage at the X and his 323 faceoff wins slot fourth all-time. Labetti is also fourth in program history with 189 career ground balls and holds the single-game mark with 15 ground balls in a game – a mark that he reached twice. His 24 faceoff wins in the 2020 victory at Siena also set a new Fairfield single-game record.
Labetti graduated cum laude from Fairfield’s Dolan School of Business as a double major in Finance and International Business. He was included into Sigma Iota Rho, the International Studies Honor Society.
A team captain in 2021, Strough is a two-time All-CAA Second Team honoree. He has racked up 96 points to date for the Stags with 78 goals and 18 assists in the midfield, sparked by a 32-point campaign as a sophomore. Strough has netted 19 man-up goals and four game-winners in his career.
Strough graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Finance and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the Business Honor Society.
“Frankie and Taylor bring so much to our program as lacrosse players and leaders in the locker room. They are committed to the success of our team for the 2022 season as well as the vision of the program for years to come,” said Baxter. “It will be a great asset to have their experience as fifth-year student-athletes alongside our senior class as mentors for the younger players and newcomers this fall.”
Drake – the older brother of rising senior Patrick Drake (Salesianum School) – played four seasons in the midfield and on attack at Notre Dame. He totaled 10 goals and eight assists in 30 games for the Irish. Notre Dame reached the NCAA postseason in three seasons – including two trips to the Quarterfinals – during Drake’s term in South Bend.
“Having spent the last four years with a nationally-ranked program, Mikey will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room, as well as the attitude and skillset needed to compete at the highest level of college lacrosse. We are looking forward to having him join our roster in the fall,” said Baxter.
Labetti was the Phillylacrosse.com South Jersey Player of the Year and Drake was the 2017 Phillylacrosse.com Delaware Player of the Year.
The 2021-22 year will be the Stags’ third season under the direction of Andrew Baxter and his staff.
