Greenwich started Saturday’s lacrosse game against non-conference foe Fairfield Prep strong, but the Jesuits finished with a flurry.

Gaining momentum as the matchup progressed, Fairfield Prep built a significant second-half lead on its way to recording an impressive 14-9 win over Greenwich at Cardinal Stadium. With the victory, Fairfield Prep improved its record to 4-2. The Cardinals, who were in quarantine for two weeks, before returning back to the field this past Monday, are 0-2.

Sophomore midfielder Peter Grandolfo and sophomore attack Marco Firmender each registered hat tricks to lead the Jesuits’ offense.

“They’re young, but they’re a strong team,” Greenwich coach Bobby Lutz said of Fairfield Prep. “They had the ball enough to where they were able to tire us out on defense.”

Indeed, possession time was key in this matchup and Prep held the possession edge, winning key faceoffs and forcing a couple of turnovers. The Cardinals are playing without their main faceoff man junior Quinton Warwick, who is currently sidelined.

Greenwich received two goals and one assist from senior midfielder Will Montesi. Junior Bryce Metalios also tallied twice for the Cardinals, who were tied with Prep, 4-4, after the first quarter and trailed, 6-5, at halftime.

“It was another possession game,” said Lutz, whose Cardinals lost to Staples in their season-opener. “When we have the ball on offense, we can score. But we need the ball on offense more.”

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead on the Jesuits on goals by senior twin brothers Chris Cataldo and John Cataldo. Senior midfielder Jack Cook assisted on Christ Cataldo’s tally and sophomore Brian Collins set up John Catlado’s goal. Sophomore attack Tyler Fox netted Fairfield Prep’s first goal at the 6:28 mark of the first quarter, but Greenwich responded 53 seconds later.

While falling to the turf, junior Flynn Milledge converted a shot, giving Greenwich a 3-1 advantage. After Firmender scored for the visitors, Montesi ran almost the entire length of the field, eluding several defenders along the way, and scored from close in, giving the Cards a 4-2 edge with 3:36 to go in the first quarter.

“We’re coming into games ready to play,” Lutz said. “We had time to implement our game plan and watch film when we lost all those days of practice. But we have to go out and play all four quarters.”

Fairfield Prep began to steadily gain momentum toward the end of the first quarter, then began building its lead in the second half. A pair of goals by Grandolfo late in the opening quarter tied the score at 4-4. Senior Aidan Derby gave the visitors their first lead of the game when he put a low shot past Cardinals goalie Will Clemens, making it 5-4. Metalios’ man-up goal evened the score at 5-5 at the 4:08 mark of the second quarter, then the Jesuits took a 6-5 edge into halftime with a tally late in the second quarter.

After Prep went ahead 7-5 on Stevenson’s goal off a pass from Grandolfo, the Cardinals closed to within 7-6 when Montesi tallied off a feed from Collins with 9:59 left in the third quarter. But Fairfield Prep increased its lead thereafter.

Sophomore midfielder Patten Royal tallied off a dodge, putting Prep in front, 8-6, and Grandolfo scored with Prep in its settled offense, making it 9-6. The Jesuits took an 11-6 advantage into the final quarter. John and Chris Cataldo, junior James Pilc, Milledge and sophomore Matthew Trimmer each had one goal for Greenwich, which got six saves from senior goalie Will Clemens.

Greenwich hosts Westhill Tuesday, then travels to Brien McMahon on Thursday and Ridgefield on Saturday.