'Cuse to Honor 1988 & 2008 NCAA Champions vs. Johns Hopkins

The history of Syracuse lacrosse is filled with memorable teams and moments, none more so than what the 1988 and 2008 NCAA Championship teams delivered.

Those two teams will be honored on the decade anniversaries of their remarkable achievement at the Carrier Dome on March 10, when Syracuse hosts storied rival Johns Hopkins.

The first time the Blue Jays are visiting the Loud House since the 2015 season, the day will consist of an on-field celebration of the two national title teams and other in-game elements to honor their success.

Tickets can be purchased at Cuse.com/Tickets, the Carrier Dome Box Office or by calling 888-DOME-TIX.

It's been 30 years since the 1988 team kick-started the most dominant three-year span in the history of college lacrosse. Losing just one game from 1988-1990, the '88 squad ran the table to a perfect 15-0 season and captured the second NCAA Championship in program history.

Led by the Hall-of-Fame coach Roy Simmons Jr., eight All-Americans played for the 1988 Orange team. With Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award winner for national player of the year – and another Hall-of-Famer - Gary Gait and Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award winner for the nation's top attackman John Zulberti, 'Cuse claimed multiple national honors that season. Matt Palumb also came away with the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player Award and Gait earned the Lt. Donald C. MacLaughlin Award for the nation's most outstanding midfielder.

Neil Alt and Bill Dirrigl captained the 1988 'Cuse squad, which outscored its opponents by an average of 9.47 goals per game. Gary Gait, Paul Gait, Zulberti, Mark Stopher, Dirrigl, Phil Schluter, Greg Burns and Pat McCabe all would earn All-America honors this year.

If the 1988 team is which truly began the Orange's dominance of Syracuse lacrosse, it was the 2008 team who restored its place atop the NCAA landscape.

After missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1979 in the 2007 season, the Orange returned in 2008 determined, and rolled to a 16-2 record to win the national title.

Headlined by the program's second Tewaaraton Award winner, Mike Leveille, head coach John Desko's squad defeated Johns Hopkins, 13-10, in the national title game to deliver double-digit NCAA Championships to Syracuse. Captained by Leveille, Evan Brady and Kyle Guadagnolo, the 2008 Orange claimed the first NCAA title since 2004.

With All-Americans Steven Brooks, Leveille, Matt Abbott, Danny Brennan, Guadagnolo, Dan Hardy, Kenny Nims and Sid Smith, 'Cuse came away with multiple national honors in addition to Leveille's Tewaaraton. Desko won the Morris Touchstone National Coach of the Year, Brooks won the MacLaughlin Award and Leveille claimed the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player.

Individual game tickets for the Johns Hopkins game cost $15 for adults and $10 for youth (12 and under). As always, students get free admission to all Syracuse men's lacrosse regular season contests.

The best value still being season tickets to the seven remaining home games at a cost of $65 for adults and $35 for youth. Season and individual game tickets are available online (www.Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX), or at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

Syracuse University Athletics

'Cuse to Honor 1988 & 2008 NCAA Champions vs. Johns Hopkins

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