Orange Lacrosse Starts 2008 Season Sunday
2/15/2008 10:44:40 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Game Notes (.pdf)
Orange All Acess
Live Stats
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - #9/9 Syracuse kicks off the 2008 campaign against Villanova on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game marks the beginning of the 89th varsity lacrosse season in school history.
Tickets for Sunday's game may be purchased on-line (click here), over the phone (1-888-DOMETIX), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. Fans will be able to receive their tickets immediately after their purchase, using the “Print At Home” delivery method. For additional information, fans can contact the Carrier Dome Box Office toll free (888-366-3849) or (315-443-2121).
Live video and audio of Sunday's game will be available on SUathletics.com via Orange All-Acess. SU alum Brian Higgins will call the play-by-play and Kyle Fetterly will serve as the color analyst. In addition, the game will be televised live in the Syracuse area on Time Warner Sports (Ch. 26).
The contest is just the second between the two schools and marks the season opener for both teams. Villanova hosted the Orange in the 1991 campaign starter, a game won by the visitors, 19-8.
SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS
Syracuse will surpass 1 million in Carrier Dome lacrosse attendance Sunday against the Wildcats. Since the building opened in 1981, the Orange has played 181 games in the Dome and 999,603 lacrosse fans have streamed through the turnstiles for an average of 5,523 spectators per game. With 397 fans against the Wildcats, the Orange will reach 1 million.Traditionally, the Syracuse community has come out in droves to support the program. The Orange boasts 11 of the NCAA’s top 17 single-season average attendance figures since 1971. Syracuse led Division I again in 2007 with an average home attendance of 4,735.
PERFECT PRESEASON
The Orange boasted a 3-0 mark in its three preseason exhibitions. Syracuse defeated Hofstra, 12-5, and LeMoyne, 9-3, in a three-way scrimmage on Feb. 2. The following week, SU knocked off Harvard, 14-9. Senior attackman Mike Leveille was an offensive force for the Orange, scoring 13 points (4.3 ppg) in the three outings.
NO SHORTAGE OF OFFENSE
In all, the Orange returns 88.6 percent of its goal scorers from a year ago, accounting for 133 of the team’s 150 total goals in 2007. Syracuse returns its top five scorers and nine of its 10 top. The only player from that group of leading scorers not back is midfielder Greg Rommel (15 goals) who graduated in May. Attackman Mike Leveille and midfielder Dan Hardy led the way with 22 apiece. Attackman Greg Niewieroski tallied 19 as did middie Steven Brooks. SU’s third attackman, Kenny Nims, had 18.
Second-year head coach Michael Corrado will have to replace six starters from last year’s team. With the loss of that many key players, it’s no surprise Villanova was picked to finish fifth behind Drexel, Towson, Delaware and Hofstra in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Even with the departures, the Wildcats do have some solid offensive players back in the fold. Villanova returns two of its top four goal scorers from last year. Senior attackman Chris MacDonald led the squad with 37 points on 19 goals and 18 assists. He was selected as a 2008 Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse. Also back in the fold is senior midfielder Tim Atkins. Atkins tallied 18 goals in 2007 and finished with 25 points. Defensively, junior captain Eddie DiDonato has been a mainstay. He will be joined by sophomore Bryan McCartney and freshman John Lade in front of the cage. Lade was named to the U.S. Men’s U-19 National Team and was rated as one of the top 100 incoming freshmen in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. Starting goalie Andrew DiLoreto also returns. He made 115 saves and posted a 9.35 goals-against average last year.
