Syracuse-Hobart Turns 100

#4 Syracuse (8-3) at Hobart (4-7)
Details	Saturday, April 19 \| Geneva, N.Y. \| 3 p.m. Boswell Field \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: TWCS \| Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM (Syracuse) Cuse.com: Listen \| HWSathletics.com: Watch \| Live Stats Twitter: @Cuse, @SUMensLax
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes \| Guide
Hobart Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Guide

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – One of lacrosse's oldest rivalries heats up again when the fourth-ranked Orange visits Hobart for a 3 p.m. showdown at Boswell Field Saturday, April 19. The match is the 100th meeting in a series that dates back to the first year of varsity lacrosse at Syracuse. The Statesmen are the Orange's oldest rival as Hobart was Syracuse's first-ever varsity opponent back on April 26, 1916.

Syracuse enters the game with an 8-3 record after defeating North Carolina last weekend to clinch a spot in the ACC Championship. Hobart is 4-2 in its last six games after starting the year 0-5.

THE KRAUS-SIMMONS TROPHY
The Kraus-Simmons Trophy has been presented to the victor in this annual showdown every year since 1986. The trophy is named for legendary Orange head coach Roy Simmons Sr., who coached at SU from 1931-70 and won 253 career games, and Babe Kraus who compiled 208 victories at Hobart.

Syracuse has won 25 of the 28 meetings since the trophy has been awarded, including 20 in a row from 1987 to 2005. The Statesmen gained possession of the trophy in 1986, 2006 and 2013. Otherwise it has resided in Syracuse.

A WIN AGAINST HOBART WOULD …
… Be the program's 855th victory, second all-time behind Hopkins (941).
… Improve SU's record to 94-23 since the start of the 2008 season.
… Be John Desko's 196th career coaching win.
… Extend SU's winning streak to five games.
… Keep the Orange unbeaten in non-conference play at 7-0.
… Improve Desko's record to 14-2 all-time against Hobart.
… Clinch the Kraus-Simmons Trophy for the 26th time in the 29 years the trophy has been awarded.

ORANGE STREAKING
Since losing 21-7 at Duke on March 23, Syracuse has won four straight games, beating Notre Dame (11-10), Binghamton (10-8), Cornell (14-9) and North Carolina (11-10). Below are the keys to the Orange's recent surge:

	First 7 Games	Last 4 Games	+/-
Goals Allowed/Game	13.57	9.25	-4.32
Clearing Pct.	81.9	90.1	+8.2
Penalties/Game	5.4	2.5	-2.9
Chris Daddio FO Pct.	42.6	58.2	+15.6
Kevin Rice PPG	3.6	5.8	+2.2

SCOUTING THE STATESMEN
Hobart is averaging nine goals per game and has reached double digits in only four of its 11 outings. Its 15 goals last time out against Wagner was a season high.

Jake McHenry (24 goals, two assists) and Cam Stone (seven goals, 19 assists) are tied for the team scoring lead. McHenry tops the Northeast Conference in goals per game (2.18). Stone, who holds the Hobart career assists record, leads the league in assists per game (1.73).

Goalie Peter Zonino anchors a Hobart defense that is allowing 9.73 goals per contest. Zonino, who had 18 saves versus SU last season, has 120 saves on the year. He sports a .529 save percentage. Defenseman Peter Bolte has had a solid season with 24 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.

Head coach Greg Raymond is in his first year with the Statesmen. Raymond was the defensive coordinator at Princeton for four years before taking the reins at Hobart. He also spent one season as an assistant coach at Drexel.

THE SERIES
The Orange began its varsity lacrosse history with a 9-1 loss at home to Hobart on April 29, 1916. Since then, it has dominated the series thanks to some lengthy winning streaks and holds a 71-26-2 advantage in the rivalry. SU won 10 in a row against Hobart from 1930 to 1936, 11 straight from 1952 to 1963 and a series-best 19 in a row from 1987 to 2005. Hobart's 13-12 victory at the Carrier Dome last season stopped a six-game winning streak for the Orange against the Statesmen.

UP NEXT ...
Syracuse will square off against Duke in the semifinals of the ACC Men's Lacrosse Championship on Friday, April 25 at PPL Park. Seeds and game times will be announced this weekend following the conclusion of conference play.

Syracuse University Athletics

Next Event

Related Videos