Men's Lacrosse Set to Open 2005 Season on Feb. 26
2/24/2005 11:22:15 PM | Men's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Seventh-year coach John Desko and his 2005 Orange squad will open the 86th varsity men's lacrosse season at home against Army on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Army comes into the season ranked No. 14 in the latest Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, while SU comes in ranked No. 3 and is the defending national champion. This will be the season opener for both teams.
The Orange own an all-time record of 67-18-0 in season openers. They are 26-9 in season-opening games since 1970 and have won eight straight, including last year’s 19-15 victory against Army in the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse is 64-11 in home openers since 1927. The Orange had previously won 11-straight home openers until a 16-15 loss to Virginia in 2003.
The Orange has won its last nine games at home, dating back to April 12, 2003, when SU lost a 12-11 overtime decision to Rutgers at the Dome. Last season, Syracuse posted a perfect 7-0 record on its home turf. After the setback to the Scarlet Knights in 2003, SU bounced back that season to win two playoff games at home against Dartmouth (13-11) and Princeton (15-5).
The Orange, unaccustomed to losing at home, are 29-4 playing at home since 2000.
Overall, SU owns a record of 145-14(.912) at the Carrier Dome all-time. The lacrosse team’s first season playing under the white bubble was 1981.
