New London, Conn. – The United States Coast Guard Academy Men’s Lacrosse team has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2013 season. The schedule includes nine regular season games and a President’s Weekend trip to face out of conference teams SCAD and Kennesaw State University – both perennial fixtures at the top of their conference and in the MCLA D2 Top 25.
The Bear’s season will start “fast and furious” as they will travel to Savannah, Georgia over President’s Weekend for back to back games against tough squads. The Bears will face SCAD on Saturday, February 16th at 7:00 PM and Kennesaw State University on Sunday, February 17th at 3:00 PM. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Coast Guard Academy and preseason No. 7 SCAD. Coast Guard has faced preseason No. 16 Kennesaw State once – during the 2011 Sailfish Shootout – the Bears came away with an 11-7 victory.
Twelve days later – on Friday, March 1st, the Bears return to New England, but hit the road to face the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University in a 7:00 PM contest under the lights in New Britain. The Bears finally return to the friendly confines of Cadet Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, March 20th for their home opener against PCLL D1 rival University of Rhode Island at 6:00 PM. Pre-game activities will also include the traditional goal-flag ceremony commemorating Coast Guard Academy graduates and lacrosse players lost on operational missions. Two tribute flags will be attached to the goals and displayed at every home game throughout the season.
Next up for the Bears is a two-game road stretch against the University of Maine – Orono Black Bears and the Engineers of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Coast Guard will make the 350 mile trip to Orono, Maine for a contest on Sunday, March 24th at 11:30 AM at Morse Field at Harold Alfond Stadium. The following Friday, March 29th the Bears will face-off in Worcester, Mass. against WPI in a 7:00 PM match.
From there, the Bears will enjoy a short three game home stand beginning Friday, April 5th at 7:00 PM against the University of New Haven Chargers. Nine days later, on Sunday, April 14th at 1:00 PM, the Bears face preseason No. 9 and PCLL favorite Briarcliffe College. Briarcliffe finished 2012 ranked No. 10 in the MCLA D2 national standings after winning the conference last season and traveling to the National Tournament in Greenville, SC. Coast Guard had two tough one goal losses to Briarcliffe last year – 13-12 in the regular season matchup on Long Island and a 9-8 overtime thriller in the PCLL Conference Championship.
On Thursday, April 18th at 7:30 PM, the Bears will host the Stonehill College Skyhawks in a game has become a heated PCLL rivalry. In 2009, Stonehill handed the Bears a tough 12-11 loss in a four-overtime thriller at Cadet Memorial Field. In 2010, the Bears avenged that loss – coming behind from four goals down for their own 12-11 victory. 2012 was no different as Stonehill knocked off Coast Guard 16-15 in the regular season only to have the Bears return the favor 20-12 in the PCLL Conference semi-finals.
In their final two regular season conference games, the Bears will face off against the Bears of Bridgewater State University on the Sunday, April 21st at 2:00 PM before hosting the Southern Connecticut State University Owls in the season finale at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 26th.
It will be an intense year for the Coast Guard Academy Men’s Lacrosse program and one in which the team will be tested physically, mentally and emotionally. A key determinant of the Bear’s success will be the ability to develop team chemistry while continuing to push each other to improve.
Day Date Time Opponent Venue
Sat Feb 16 7:00 PM SCAD# Savannah, GA
Sun Feb 17 7:00 PM Kennesaw State# Savannah, GA
Fri Mar 1 7:00 PM Central Conn * New Britain, CT
Wed Mar 20 6:00 PM URI Home
Sun Mar 24 11:00 PM Maine Orono, ME
Fri Mar 29 7:00 PM WPI Worcester, MA
Fri Apr 5 7:00 PM New Haven* Home
Sun Apr 14 1:00 PM Briarcliffe College * Home
Thu Apr 18 7:30 PM Stonehill College Home
Sun Apr 21 2:00 PM Bridgewater State Bridgewater, MA
Fri Apr 26 7:00 PM Southern Conn * Home
Sat May 4 PCLL Conference Tourney TBD
Mon May 13 MCLA National Tourney Greenville, SC
# = President’s Weekend Tournament at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
SCAD Athletic Complex, 3650 Speedway Blvd, Hardeeville, SC
* = PCLL D2 South Conference Game
For more information – check out our website at: www.coastguardlax.vicid.net
As the smallest of the five U.S. service academies, the Coast Guard Academy offers the elite higher education, rigorous professional development, and honor and tradition of a military academy but with a more personalized approach.
The Coast Guard Academy offers an integrated life experience which emphasizes academics, physical fitness, character and leadership, in order to graduate officers of the highest caliber. Graduates go directly to positions of leadership in “The Shield of Freedom,” one of the most admired organizations in the world. The Academy also features an impressive teacher-student ratio and picturesque waterfront campus that instills a traditional small college feel.
Cadets devote themselves to an honor concept and graduate to work at sea, on land, in the air, and even in space, in meaningful careers of selfless service to others.
