SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University men’s head lacrosse coach John Desko released the team’s 2013 schedule on Thursday, Dec. 6. This year’s 14-game regular-season slate features eight home games, four road dates and two neutral-site appearances in events.
Syracuse opens the season with three consecutive home games. The Orange will host Albany on Feb. 17 as part of a doubleheader with the Orange women’s team, and Army makes its annual Carrier Dome visit as part of another men’s and women’s lacrosse doubleheader on Feb. 24. The homestand concludes on March 1 when Syracuse welcomes perennial national title contender Virginia to the Dome.
The Orange begins BIG EAST Conference play with a neutral-site matchup against St. John’s (March 9) in the inaugural Whitman’s Sampler Independence Classic. The game is the opening contest of a tripleheader arranged by Inside Lacrosse at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
Following its date with the Red Storm, Syracuse returns home for a game against archrival Johns Hopkins (March 16). Road dates against BIG EAST foes Providence (March 19) and Villanova (March 23) precede a home game against Canisius. The date for the Canisius game has not yet been determined.
In April, the Orange visits Princeton (April 6) then returns to the Dome for three more consecutive home dates. Syracuse opens the stretch against Central New York rival Cornell on April 10. A visit by Rutgers follows on April 13, and Syracuse hosts Hobart in its home regular-season finale on April 16.
A visit to Georgetown (April 20,) and a game versus Notre Dame at Metlife Stadium as part of the 2013 Konica Minolta Big City Classic on April 27, rounds out the schedule.
Following the regular season, the top four teams in the BIG EAST standings will advance to the conference tournament, which will be held from May 2-4 at Villanova. The winner will be crowned league champion and receives the BIG EAST’s automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
Overall, Syracuse’s 14 regular-season opponents combined for a 110-97 (.531) record a year ago. Five of its opponents (Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Canisius, Princeton and Notre Dame) qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year with Notre Dame reaching the national semifinals.
In addition to its eight regular-season home games, the Orange will also play two preseason scrimmages. Hofstra and Holy Cross visit the Dome for a three-way scrimmage on Jan. 26. Syracuse will travel to Columbus, Ohio on Feb. 2 to face Ohio State and Robert Morris in another three-way exhibition.
The 2013 season marks the 94th varsity lacrosse campaign for the Orange. Last year, Syracuse defeated Villanova and St. John’s to win the inaugural BIG EAST Championship. Syracuse finished 9-8 overall and reached the NCAA Tournament, losing at Duke in the first round, 12-9.
2013 SYRACUSE MEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE
February
Sat., Jan. 26 – Hofstra/Holy Cross (scrimmage), 10 a.m.
Sat., Feb. 2 – at Ohio State/Robert Morris (scrimmage), 11:30 a.m.
Sun., Feb. 17 – Albany, 4 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 24 – Army, 4 p.m.
March
Fri., March 1 – Virginia, TBA
Sat., March 9 – vs. St. John’s (Chester, Pa.), 12 p.m.
Sat., March 16 – Johns Hopkins, TBA
Tues., March 19 – at Providence, TBA
Sat., March 23 – at Villanova, TBA
TBA – Canisius, TBA
April
Sat., April 6 – at Princeton, TBA
Wed., April 10 – Cornell, 6 p.m.
Sat., April 13 – Rutgers, 1 p.m.
Tues., April 16 – Hobart, 7 p.m.
Sat., April 20 – at Georgetown, 1 p.m.
Sat., April 27 – vs. Notre Dame (E. Rutherford, N.J.), 6:30 p.m.
May
Thurs., May 2 – BIG EAST Championship Semifinals (Villanova, Pa.), TBA
Sat., May 4 – BIG EAST Championship Final (Villanova, Pa.), TBA
