AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas Men’s Lacrosse team has announced their team captains for the 2014 season. Senior midfielders Josh Francis and John Jackson along with defensemen Michael Rizzutti, Sr., Turner Kerr, Jr., and goalie Jordan Lee, Sr., will lead the squad.
Last season Francis and Jackson totaled 53 points together while Lee finished the season with a .669 save percentage which helped the team reach their second consecutive MCLA playoff berth and Lone Star Alliance championship title.
Senior Josh Francis, the team President, says “There is a lot of buzz going around in regards to this upcoming season. The guys are excited, the students are excited, and really the Texas lacrosse community as a whole is excited. What’s different this year from years past is the fact that we have a strong core of seniors that have stuck with it. But the most glaring difference to this team is our schedule. It’s one of the toughest, if not the toughest, in the MCLA. Which just goes to show that we believe in us, the University believes in us, and our fans believe in us.”
Jackson says he’s excited for the season to start. “We have a great group of seniors, and a lot of promising young talent,” Jackson said. “It’s been a great off season and we should be ready to make a little noise come spring time.”
This season the Longhorns have a busy schedule with 11 road games including trips to Colorado to play No. 2 CU Boulder and defending national champions Colorado State, and Oregon to take on Simon Fraser from Canada and the University of Oregon Ducks. Texas lost to CU Boulder 11-7 in the MCLA playoffs last year.
Head Coach Andy Garrigan is optimistic about the season despite losing their leading scorer from last season Spencer Price.
“It’s a very challenging out of conference schedule, but one that I absolutely believe we are ready to take on,” Garrigan said. “We have an incredibly talented team that I frankly believe is more talented than the squad we fielded last year. The slate of games we scheduled was done to challenge this gifted group.”
Additionally, Texas will travel east to take on NCAA Division 1 Mercer University in Macon, Ga. Texas will kick of their season on February 1 at home against NCAA Division 3 Southwestern University at the Caven Lacrosse and Sports Center.
2014 Game Schedule
Home Games in Bold
Saturday, February 1 @ 2:30 v Southwestern U(NCAA D3) – University of Texas Caven Field
Sunday, February 2 @ 2:30 v Texas A&M – University of Texas Caven Field
Friday, February 7 @ 7:00 v TCU – University of Texas Caven Field
Saturday, February 8 @ 1:00 v UT San Antonio – University of Texas Caven Field
Saturday, February 16 @ 1:00 v University of Houston – Houston Amateur Sports Park
Saturday, February 16 @ 4:00 v Rice University – Houston Amateur Sports Park
Saturday, February 22 @ 4:30 v Ole Miss – UL Lafayette Cajun Field
Sunday, February 23 @ 12:00 v UL Lafayette – UL Lafayette Cajun Field
Friday, February 28 @ 7:00 v Colorado – Franklin Field
Sunday, March 2 @ 1:00 v Colorado State – CSU/Ft. Collins
Friday, March 7 @ 7:30 v Mercer University(NCAA D1) – Mercer University
Saturday, March 8 @ 2:30 v Georgia Tech – Georgia Tech
Saturday, March 29 @ 4:00 v Chapman – University of Texas Caven Field
Sunday, March 30 @ 1:00 v Central Florida – University of Texas Caven Field
Saturday, April 5 @ 7:30 v LSU – University of Texas Caven Field
Tuesday, April 8 @ 7:30 v Texas State – Texas State University
Saturday, April 12 @ 1:00 v Oregon – Oregon/Nex-Turf Field
Sunday, April 13 @ 11:30 v Simon Fraser – Lake Oswego HS
Saturday, April 26 @ TBA – LSA Playoffs – University of Texas Caven Field
Sunday, April 27 @ TBA – LSA Playoffs – University of Texas Caven Field
