#6 Orange Open 2016 Season with Central New York Classic

Syracuse vs. Massachusetts
Game Details	Friday, Aug. 26 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m.
Game Coverage	Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Cuse TV: Preview Live Coverage: ACC Network Extra \| Stats Twitter: @cuse \| @CuseMSOC
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
UMass Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

Syracuse vs. Loyola Marymount
Game Details	Sunday, Aug. 28 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 7 p.m.
Game Coverage	Live Coverage: Stats Twitter: @cuse \| @CuseMSOC
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
LMU Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse officially kicks off the 2016 campaign when it hosts Massachusetts in the first round of the Central New York Classic on Friday, Aug. 25 at the SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange will host Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. in the second round of the tournament. Syracuse enters the season ranked No. 6 in the NSCAA preseason top 25.

Admission to the game is free of charge. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will televise the game. Live video will also be available on ACC Network Extra.

TIME TO TURN THE PAGE
Syracuse produced the most successful season in school history in 2015. The Orange posted 16 victories, just one shy of the single-season school record, and won its first ACC Championship. Syracuse earned a program-best No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament where it advanced to the College Cup for the first time in school history.

The Orange return seven starters from last year's squad, including its entire starting defense. Syracuse must replace its top two scorers from 2015 – Julian Buescher and Ben Polk. Both were drafted in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft.

ACC COACHES PICK ORANGE THIRD IN ATLANTIC DIVISION
Syracuse was picked third in the ACC Atlantic Division in a preseason vote by the league's head coaches. The Orange garnered 50 points in the poll. National finalist Clemson was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Division. The Tigers received six first-place votes and 64 points. Wake Forest also received six first-place votes and totaled 62 points for second place. Boston College was fourth in the poll with 34 points, followed by Louisville (28 pts.) and NC State (14 pts.).

SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
Massachusetts returns nine starters from last year's team, including co-captains Ty Goncalves and Matthew Mooney. Goalkeeper Jorge Becerra also returns. Massachusetts went 1-1 in two exhibition matches, losing to Connecticut before defeating Bryant.

Fran O'Leary is in his second year at the helm of the Minutemen program. Massachusetts posted a 5-13-1 record in his inaugural season in Amherst.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Loyola Marymount finished the 2015 season with a 9-9-0 record. Junior forward Alvaro Madrigal and Corral Cruz combined for 12 of the Lions' 23 goals last season. Madrigal was chosen to the preseason All-West Coast Conference Team.

Head coach Paul Krumpe is in his 19th season at Loyola Marymount. He has guided the Lions to a record of 154-145-37 and four NCAA Tournament appearances.

THE SERIES
Syracuse has won both of the two previous meetings against Massachusetts. The Orange defeated the Minutemen, 2-0, in 2012 in Amherst and then won again, 3-0, at the SU Soccer Stadium in 2013. Sunday's match will be the first meeting between Syracuse and Loyola Marymount.