SU Closes Preseason vs. Maryland

EXHIBITION #3 - Syracuse vs. Maryland
Game Details	Sunday, February 12 \| Syracuse, N.Y. Carrier Dome \| Tickets \| Weather \| Twitter: @suorangeempire
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Maryland Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The eighth-ranked Orange men's lacrosse team will play its final exhibition game on Sunday, Feb. 12 when it hosts No. 7 Maryland at 12 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. It's the third year in a row these two lacrosse titans have tangled in the preseason.

Admission 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.

NOT REALLY A REMATCH
Many will point to the fact that Maryland eliminated Syracuse in last year's NCAA quarterfinals and dub Sunday's scrimmage a rematch. But is it really? The Orange lost seven of 10 starters from last season as well as top long-stick midfielder Joel White and primary short-stick middie Tim Harder.

The Terps were similarly hit hard by graduation. Gone are three of Maryland's top four attackmen from 2011 (Grant Catalino, Ryan Young, Travis Reed) and last season's entire starting close defense (Brett Schmidt, Max Schmidt and Ryder Bohlander). The Terps also lost their top long-stick middie in Brian Farrell.

LAST TIME OUT
The Orange began the 2012 campaign with two wins in its opening scrimmage last Sunday. Syracuse defeated Division II Le Moyne, 11-5, and knocked off No. 14 Hofstra, 7-5.

Fourteen different players combined for Syracuse's 18 goals in the two games. The only player with multiple goals in either game was junior Christian Pagli, who scored twice against Le Moyne.

Redshirt sophomore Matthew Lerman started both games in goal and finished with three total saves.

SCOUTING MARYLAND
The Terps come into the 2012 season as the No. 7 team in the nation. Last year Maryland posted a 13-5 record and advanced to the NCAA title game, losing to Virginia, 9-7. In addition, the Terps are the defending ACC champions.

Maryland's leading returning scorer is Owen Blye. The junior from Downingtown, Md. started every game last season and totaled 33 points, including 19 goals.

The midfield is Maryland's most experienced group with senior Jake Bernhardt (15g, 3a), senior Drew Snider (17g, 3a) and junior John Haus (14g, 14a). This trio combined for 66 points last season. Bolstering the unit is the addition of former Princeton Mike Chanenchuk, who transferred to Maryland in the off the season. Chanenchuk was the unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2010 after notching 28 goals and 36 total points.

Junior LSM Jesse Bernhardt is the unquestioned leader of the defense. He played in all eighteen games for the Terps last season and totaled two goals and two assists. Bernhardt also collected 44 ground balls and forced 16 turnovers.

Sophomore Niko Amato is in his second season as Maryland's top goaltender. He won the starting job as a rookie in 2011 and recorded 165 saves and a 6.78 goals-against average in leading the Terps to the brink of an NCAA championship.

FAMILIAR FACE
Syracuse will find itself going up against a familiar foe on Sunday – sophomore Taylor Morgan. The long-stick middie from Potomac, Md. was a member of the Orange last year before transferring to Maryland for upcoming campaign. Morgan did not appear in any games for Syracuse, missing all of 2011 due to illness.

UP NEXT …
The Orange open the 2012 regular season at home on Sunday, Feb. 19 against Albany at 2 p.m. The game is the second of Carrier Dome lacrosse tripleheader that also features Air Force versus Rutgers at 11 a.m. and Hobart against Siena at 5 p.m. Tickets are available online, at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B) or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.

Syracuse University Athletics

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