Men's Lacrosse to Play Seven Home Games in 2006

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University men's lacrosse team will play 12 games in 2006, seven of which will be against opponents who qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament. Counting scrimmages against Navy and Maryland in early February, Coach John Desko's team will square off against playoff-caliber competition in its first six contests to begin the year.

Maryland, a team the Orange is scheduled to scrimmage on Feb. 18, made it to the national semifinals a year ago. So did Virginia, a squad that lost to eventual national champion Johns Hopkins, 9-8 in overtime, after a significant stoppage of play due to weather conditions. SU will travel to Virginia on March 4, and to Johns Hopkins on March 18.

"Like always, it's one of the most competitive schedules in the country," Desko said. "With seven home contests, our fans will be able to see some great lacrosse in the Carrier Dome. The quality of teams on our schedule should really prepare us for the NCAA Tournament. There are no days off."

The 87^th season of varsity lacrosse at Syracuse will officially begin on Feb. 25, when Army visits the Carrier Dome for the third time in the last four years. The trip to Virginia comes next, followed by a March 10 home date against Georgetown, a squad that defeated the Orange, 10-7, in last year's First 4, an elite college lacrosse showcase held in Southern California.

After the March 18 game at Hopkins, Syracuse will enjoy a three-game home stand against Hobart, Loyola and Princeton. The Orange beat all three teams a season ago.

The final five regular-season contests feature three opponents who will look to return to the NCAA Tournament. It all begins with a Tuesday night visit to Cornell's Schoellkopf Field, a site that has not been particularly hospitable to the Orange in recent years. April showers usually have something to do with that. This year's matchup will be played April 11 at 7 p.m. On April 15, SU will be at Rutgers and then returns home to face Albany and Massachusetts, two squads that earned postseason berths last season. The Minutemen handed Syracuse its final two losses of the season last year, including a 16-15 decision in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which sent the Orange home early for the first time in 22 years.

A short Central New York jaunt will take Syracuse to Hamilton, NY to face Colgate in the final regular-season game on May 6.

NCAA first-round games are held at campus sites. This year's NCAA quarterfinals will be hosted by Stony Brook (May 20) and Towson (May 21). The semifinals and finals will be contested at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on May 27 and 29.

Syracuse finished the 2005 season with a 7-6 record.

2006 Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse Schedule

Sat., Feb. 11 – at Navy (scrimmage) – 12 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 18 – MARYLAND (scrimmage) at Coyne Field – 1 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 25 – ARMY – 4 p.m.

Sat., March 4 – at Virginia – 3 p.m.

Fri., March 10 – GEORGETOWN – 7 p.m.

Sat., March 18 – at Johns Hopkins – 1 p.m.

Tues., March 28 – HOBART – 7 p.m.

Sat., April 1 – LOYOLA – 4 p.m.

Sat., April 8 – PRINCETON – 2 p.m.

Tues., April 11 – at Cornell – 7 p.m.