Top-Ranked Orange Hosts No. 18 Army

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Top-ranked Syracuse (1-0), fresh off a dominating season-opening victory against Providence, will take on its first nationally-ranked opponent when No. 18 Army (1-0) visits the Carrier Dome on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The game is a matchup of two of the winningest programs in college lacrosse as Syracuse (778 wins) and Army (700 wins) are two of only five Division I schools to boast at least 700 all-time victories.

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.

Friday'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.

NIMS AND KEOGH TEAM UP TO PACE SU AGAINST PROVIDENCE

The attack combination of senior Kenny Nims and sophomore Stephen Keogh combined for eight goals and 15 points in SU's season-opening win against Providence. Nims tallied a career-best eight points and tied his career high with five assists. Keogh notched a personal-best five goals and seven points against the Friars. Either Nims or Keogh recorded a point on 12 of the team's 22 scores. Keogh netted four straight goals in the first and second quarters as part of a 15-0 Orange run that sealed the game. Nims assisted on two of Keogh's goals and four of Syracuse's five scores in the second quarter.

OFFENSIVE BARRAGE BEST UNDER DESKO IN AN OPENER

Syracuse's 22 goals against Providence was the most for an SU squad in a season opener since it also tallied 22 against Virginia in the 1997 season starter. It also marked the most goals in an opener for the Orange under head coah John Desko. Last Sunday's offensive explosion was the third time the Orange reached the 20-goal plateau in an opener since Desko took over in 1999. SU defeated Rutgers, 20-13, in Desko's first game at the helm of the program and knocked off Villanova, 21-6, to start the 2008 season. Overall, Syracuse has scored 20 goals seven times on Desko's watch. The Orange is 7-0 in those games.

MAN-UP MARVELOUS

Syracuse converted on six of its seven man-up opportunities (.857) in its season-opening victory. Three of the team's extra-man goals came in the first period as part of a three-minute, non-releasable penalty assessed to Providence's Dean Fraser for an illegal stick. The Orange had at least one man-up goal in all four quarters against the Friars. The least time the Orange scored six extra-man goals was on April 26, 2002 in a 18-10 win against Massachusetts.

DEFENSIVELY DOMINANT

Syracuse surrendered just three goals in its season-opening victory against Providence, one off the Carrier Dome record for the fewest goals allowed (2 vs. Binghamton, 2008). It marked the sixth time in the 19 games Lelan Rogers has served as defensive coordinator that the Orange gave up five goals or less. In the five years (2003-07) prior to Rogers taking over the defense, Syracuse allowed five or fewer goals a total of four times in 74 games. The Orange allowed just 12 shots against the Friars and shutout Providence for a stretch of 34:35 between its first and second goals.

SCOUTING ARMY

Like Syracuse, Army enters the game with a record of 1-0 after throttling VMI in its season opener, 17-3. Friday's contest is the Black Knights' only road game in its first five outings. Following its date with the Orange, Army returns to West Point for three consecutive home games. Attackmen Jason Peyer and Jeremy Boltus keyed the Army offense against VMI. Both players tallied six points in the victory. Peyer had six goals and Boltus, a Baldwinsville native, recorded two goals and four assists. Sophomore goalie Tom Palesky has been charged with replacing All-American Adam Fullerton in goal. Palesky made three saves and did not allow a goal in three quarters of work against the Keydets. The Black Knights dominated VMI at the faceoff X, winning 15 of the 21 draws in the game. Senior Sean Reppard won 9-of-11 (.818) faceoff attempts and led the squad with seven ground balls versus VMI.

THE SERIES

Army owns a 38-17 lead in the all-time series which began in 1921 and won 35 of the first 38 pairings. Syracuse has gotten the better of the Black Knights lately, having won 12 of the last 13 meetings dating back to 1984, including an 8-7 victory at the Dome last season. Attackmen Mike Leveille and Greg Niewieroski combined for seven of the Orange's eight goals in last year's win.

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