SU Opens 2013 at the Cougar Classic

OPENING WEEKEND: COUGAR CLASSIC – Charleston, S.C. @ Patriots Point
East Tennessee State: Friday, Feb. 15 @ 2 p.m.	Towson: Friday, Feb. 15 @ 6 p.m.
Charleston: Saturday, Feb. 16 @ 4 p.m.	Akron: Saturday, Feb. 16 @ 8 p.m
James Madison: Sunday, Feb. 17 @ 10 a.m.
GAME COVERAGE:	Twitter: @Cuse Live updates: In-Game Blog Live Stats: GameTracker
SOFTBALL QUICK LINKS	Game Notes \| Roster \| Schedule \| 2012 Statstics\| Quick Facts

Charleston, S.C. – Returning from another record-setting season, the SU softball team is back and ready to take on the competition, traveling to Charleston, S.C. to kick off the 2013 at the Cougar Classic hosted by the College of Charleston.

The Orange will open the season with a pair of games on Friday against East Tennessee State at 2 p.m. and Towson at 6 p.m., returning Saturday to face tournament host, Charleston at 4 p.m. and Akron at 8 p.m. Syracuse will conclude the weekend with a matchup against James Madison at 10 a.m.

Fans can follow a live blog for exclusive and up to the minute game updates for all contests by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

SEASON IN REVIEW:
Following another highly successful season that featured the program's deepest post-season run in history, the Syracuse softball team is back in 2013 and looking for even more. The Orange made it to the NCAA Regional Final after defeating #2 Arizona State, for a win against the highest ranked opponent on record. SU also finished within the top 25 rankings for the first time ever at #24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll and #23 in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll.

UP AGAINST TOUGH COMPETITION:
Syracuse will be playing another challenging schedule this season as SU's slate of competition includes 15 teams that made the NCAA tournament a season ago, which is six more than last season. Along with seven teams that are currently ranked in the top 25, four are in the Top10 (#5 Florida, #6 Texas, #8/9 California and #10/11 LSU).

RECEVING VOTES:
The Orange received votes in both the preseason and week one editions of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 and NFCA/USA Today Top 25 polls. Syracuse made its first apperance in the NFCA-USA Today polls at No. 25 on March 8, 2011 and remained a consistent member from April 17th until the most current release on Feb. 12, 2013.

A WINNING TRADITION:
Entering her seventh season at the helm of the Syracuse softball program, head coach Leigh Ross has built the Orange into one of the most prominent programs in the Northeast. Last season, Ross hit two big career milestones, posting her 400th career win against Jacksonville on 2/18/2012 and her 150th win at SU against Texas State on 2/10/2012. Ross is currently 192-149 at Syracuse since she took over the squad in 2006, which makes her just eight wins shy of 200 with the Orange.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Next weekend Syracuse will travel to Palm Springs, Calif. to participate in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (formerly the Cathedral Classic). While there, SU will be up against some of its toughest competition, facing three ranked opponents, featuring two in the top 20 and one receiving votes. SU will also meet one of its highest ranked opponents, taking on #5 Florida in the first matchup of the weekend.

Syracuse University Athletics

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