Orange Kicks Off 2009 Season Sunday

Buy Tickets | Watch/Listen Live | Live Stats | Game Notes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Defending national champion Syracuse starts the 2009 campaign against Providence on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game is the season opener for both teams and the contest marks the beginning of the 90th varsity lacrosse season in school history. Sunday's game also represents the first meeting between the two schools in men's lacrosse.

Tickets are available online at SUathletics.com, 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 right after purchase by using the "Ticketfast" delivery method. 'Cuse Kids Club members get in free with their membership card.

Sunday's game will air live locally on Time Warner Sports 26 in Syracuse. Fans can listen to the action via the Syracuse ISP Sports Network's flagship station TK 99 (99.5 FM). The audio and video streams of the broadcast are available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access.

ALONE AT THE TOP

The Orange is ranked No. 1 in the preseason USILA Coaches Poll. Syracuse received eight of the 10 first-place votes and a total of 198 points in the rankings. It marks the first time since 2003 Syracuse will start the season as the top team in the land. Virginia (192 points) received the other two first-place votes and checked in at No. 2. SU is second in the preseason NIKE/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. The Cavaliers are No. 1 in the media rankings.

ANOTHER POLL NOTE

Syracuse and Virginia are the only schools to have both its men's and women's teams ranked in the top five of both polls. The SU women's squad is No. 2 in both the coaches poll (IWLCA) and the media poll (Inside Lacrosse). The Orange men's and women's teams will host a doubleheader against the Virgina men's and women's squads on Friday, Feb. 27 at the Carrier Dome.

SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS

SU owns an all-time record of 71-18 (.798) in season-opening games. It is 30-9 in campaign starters since 1970 and has won 12 straight, including all 10 under head coach John Desko. The Orange routed Villanova, 21-6, in last year's campaign starter.

STREAKING AT HOME

The Orange has won its last nine games at the Carrier Dome, going undefeated (9-0) at home in 2008. Syracuse's last Dome loss was in the 2007 season finale versus Colgate on May 5, 2007. Syracuse and Johns Hopkins share the NCAA record for consecutive home victories (37). The Orange won 37 homes games in a row from April 24, 1982 to March 18, 1987. The Blue Jays won 37 in a row from April 3, 2001 to February 25, 2006.

FAST FEBRUARY STARTS

The 2009 season opener against Providence is the earliest opener in Orange history, besting last year's season starter by two calendar days. In all, the Orange has played 12 games in the month of February and is 11-1. Its first February encounter was a thrilling 22-21 victory on Feb. 28, 1997 against Virginia at the Dome. Casey Powell led SU to the win, scoring a school-record 13 points (7g, 6a). The contest remains the highest scoring game in school history (43 combined goals).

PERFECT PRESEASON

The Orange boasted a 3-0 mark in its three preseason exhibitions. Syracuse defeated Hofstra and Le Moyne both by the score of 13-6 on in a three-way scrimmage on Jan. 29. Redshirt freshman attackman Tim Desko (son of SU coach John Desko) led the way with seven goals in the two games. He and senior captain Kenny Nims each had nine points on the day. The following week, SU knocked off Harvard, 10-7. Eight players recorded at least one goal against the Crimson. Sophomore attackman Stephen Keogh led the Orange with three goals and four total points.

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE

The Friars were picked to finish second in MAAC this season by the league's coaches after posting a 7-7 overall record in 2008. Junior attackman Colin Tigh and junior midfielder Jackson Fallon were named to the 2009 preseason all-conference team. Tigh is the team's top returning scorer. He had 26 points, including 17 goals a year ago. Fallon tallied 20 points, including 13 goals. He led the Friars with six man-up scores. Senior attackman Bobby Labadini (11 goals) is the only other double-figure goal scorer back this season for the Friars. Providence has significant experience in goal with senior Robert Bryan. Bryan started every game as a junior and recorded a 6.49 goals-against average, while making 102 saves. Providence head coach Chris Burdick owns a 74-86 record in 10 seasons. He guided the Friars to the MAAC Tournament title and the NCAA Tournament in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Syracuse University Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos