SU Hosts Two More Scrimmages Thursday

EXHIBITIONS #3/4 - Syracuse vs. Maryland/Canisius
Game Details	Thursday, February 10 \| Syracuse, N.Y. Carrier Dome \| Tickets \| Weather
Schedule	Syracuse vs. Maryland - 11 a.m. Syracuse vs. Canisius - 2 p.m.
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats
Maryland Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats
Canisius Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The second-ranked Orange lacrosse team will play two more preseason exhibitions on Thursday, Feb. 10 inside the Carrier Dome. Syracuse will host No. 4 Maryland at 11 a.m. followed by Canisius at 2 p.m. The contests are the Orange's final tune-ups before opening the 2011 regular-season on Feb. 20 against Denver.

Admission for Thursday scrimmages is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12-and-under. Parking is $10 per car in the surface lots located off Irving Avenue across from the Dome.

LAST TIME OUT

Syracuse split its first two preseason exhibitions last Saturday. The Orange defeated Division II Le Moyne, 10-5, and lost to No. 9 Hofstra, 6-5. Senior midfielders Jovan Miller and Josh Amidon were Syracuse's two bright spots offensively. Miller recorded four goals in the two games, including three in SU's victory against the Dolphins. Amidon registered one goal and one assist in each game.

The Orange received solid play at the faceoff X Saturday. Syracuse owned the advantage in draws in both games, winning 9-of-15 against Hofstra and 11-of-19 versus Le Moyne. Two freshmen - Chris Daddio and Ricky Buhr - were particularly impressive in their first taste of collegiate competition. Daddio was 6-for-12 at the X in the two games. Buhr went 6-of-7, including a 5-for-5 showing against Le Moyne. Senior Josh Knight (4-for-4) was also perfect against the Dolphins and 5-for-6 on the day.

After a slow start, the Orange defense quickly regained its 2010 form when it led the nation in scoring defense. Syracuse allowed a pair of first-quarter goals to Hofstra, but stiffened and only gave up nine goals combined the rest of the afternoon. Senior goalie John Galloway started and played the first half of both games. He totaled nine saves on the day, including five against the Dolphins.

SCOUTING MARYLAND

The Terps come into the 2011 campaign as the consensus No. 4 team in the nation behind Syracuse, Virginia and North Carolina. Maryland posted a 12-4 record a year ago and reached the NCAA quarterfinals before losing to national runner-up Notre Dame, 7-5. Following the season, longtime head coach Dave Cottle was replaced by John Tillman, who begins his first year in College Park after three seasons as the head coach at Harvard.

Tillman has a pair of experienced attackmen leading the Terps' offense. Seniors Grant Catalino (34g, 20a) and Travis Reed (21g, 18a) combined for 93 points in 2010. Junior midfielder Joe Cummings (16g, 4a) is also an offensive threat.

Defensively, Maryland brings back all three of its starting close defenders. The group is led by senior Brett Schmidt, who recorded 36 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers last season. The Terps also return one of college lacrosse's top long-stick middies in senior Brian Farrell. Farrell forced 26 turnovers last year and was an offensive threat as well with six goals and six assists.

SCOUTING CANISIUS

The Griffins finished with a 6-7 record last season under head coach Randy Mearns. A 1992 Canisius grad, Mearns is in his 13th season at the helm of his alma mater. He has guided the Griffins to two MAAC regular-season titles and one NCAA appearance. The team's lone NCAA berth came in 2008. Canisius met the Orange in the tournament's first round at the Carrier Dome and Syracuse prevailed, 20-3, on its way to the national championship.

This year's edition of the Griffins are led by senior attackman Adam Jones. One of the best finishers in the college game, Jones recorded 40 points last season, including 25 goals. Canisius will also get point production from Cicero, N.Y. native Nick LoCoco (4g, 11a) and junior Simon Giourmetakis (13g, 7a) at the attack position.

Senior team captain Dan Coates leads the Canisius defense from the long-stick midfield spot. Junior Sean Callahan will likely be the team's starting goalkeeper this year after recording a 9.62 goals-against average in 2010.

Syracuse University Athletics

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