#4 Orange Host Canisius in Season Opener

Game Details: Friday, Feb. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
TV: ACC Network Extra
Radio: WJPZ 89.1 FM
Twitter: @Cuse | @CuseWLAX
Live Coverage: Stats
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Schedule | Roster
Canisius Links: News | Schedule | Roster

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 4/4 Syracuse opens its 23rd season of play on Friday, Feb. 7 when it hosts Canisius in the season opener. Opening draw is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Admission and parking are free of charge.

The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and the Watch ESPN app. Fans can also listen to all the action on WJPZ 89.1FM in the Syracuse area.

Fans should enter through Gate A where they can get a free fanny pack, schedule card and poster.

ORANGE IN SEASON OPENERS
Syracuse is opening the 2020 season at home for the sixth straight year. The Orange are 17-5 overall in season openers and 12-0 under head coach Gary Gait.

ORANGE OUTLOOK
Syracuse is coming off its eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Orange's season ended in an 18-14 loss at No. 4 seed Northwestern in the quarterfinals. This season Syracuse will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the nation as it takes on No. 1 Maryland, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 3 Northwestern and No. 5 Boston College. Overall, 10 of Syracuse's 17 opponents are ranked in the top 25 and the Orange will play seven of those matches on the road.

Syracuse returns six of its top seven scorers from last season, including first team All-American Emily Hawryschuk. Hawryschuk led the team with 75 goals and 94 points a year ago. Defensively, second team All-ACC performers Kerry Defliese and Sarah Cooper are returning. Cooper led the team in caused turnovers (33) and was second in ground balls (36) and draw controls (42). Defliese was second on the team in caused turnovers (28) and third in ground balls (33). Goalkeeper, Asa Goldstock will be back in the net for the Orange. Last season, she had a 10.25 goals-against average and a .420 save percentage.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
Canisius finished the 2019 season with a 3-15 record, including 2-6 in MAAC play. The Golden Griffins have two of their top three scorers returning. Junior Marissa Malvaso was second on the team in goals (31) and assists (15), while senior Bryar Cummings was third on the team in points with 35 on 24 goals and 11 assists. Sophomore Shannon Maroney and junior Lauren Gilbert split time in the net last season for Canisius, and both are returning.

THE SERIES
Friday's game will be the seventh meeting between the two squads. The Orange have a 6-0 record against the Golden Griffins and beat them 18-6 the last time they met in 2017 in the Dome.

UP NEXT
Syracuse opens the season by playing four games in nine days, all of which are at home. Next up for the Orange is No. 12/12 Stony Brook on Monday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. in the Dome.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Cooper

Kerry Defliese

Asa Goldstock

Emily Hawryschuk

Syracuse University Athletics