5 Things to Know: Syracuse vs. Hobart
3/4/2022 7:11:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
The Syracuse men's lacrosse program hosts its oldest rival on Sunday at 4 p.m. Here are five things to know about the matchup.
1. A Trophy is on the Line
Syracuse and Hobart have played near annually since 1916. Since 1986, hardware has been up for grabs in the upstate rivalry. The Kraus-Simmons 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.
The Simmons name has been synonymous with Syracuse lacrosse since nearly the program's inception. After Simmons Sr., his son Roy Simmons Jr. led the program from 1971-1998 winning six NCAA Championships. Roy Simmons III remains on staff as the current director of operations. A member of the three generations of the Simmons family has been part of the program for 92 consecutive seasons (94 in total counting Simmons Sr.'s playing days) and been part of 839 victories - more than all-but three programs in NCAA Division I history.
Syracuse has won 32 of the 35 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. The Orange retained the trophy from 2020 by beating the Statesmen 21-13.
Due to space limitations on the prior trophy, in 2019 a new base addition was installed and the trophy was updated. There are now commemorative inscriptions for Kraus and Simmons on each side, with additional space to list the winners. The cup at the top remains the original.
2. College Lacrosse's Oldest Rivalries
Syracuse and Hobart is the third-longest running rivalry in college lacrosse, with Sunday set to be the 107th meeting.
Cornell and Hobart (139 meetings) is the longest, while Johns Hopkins and Maryland (122 meetings), is now second and continues to rise as the frequency with which they play increased since joining the same conference in 2015. Behind 'Cuse and Hobart is Syracuse's series with Cornell (105 meetings) and Princeton vs. Yale (105 meetings).
Syracuse and Hobart met in the Orange's first ever organized lacrosse game. Hobart took the win 9-1 on April 29, 1916. Last year, due to schedule challenges caused by COVID protocols, was the first year that the two teams did not meet since 1985 (although to make up for it they, had played twice in 1984 in a home and home and founded the Kraus-Simmons Trophy the following year). The last season prior to 2021 that the programs did not meet without playing twice in a subsequent year was 1961.
3. State Champs
After a loss to Army on Wednesday, the Orange are looking for a change of fortune vs. in-state opponents on Sunday. In total, Syracuse is 418-162-10 vs. teams from the state of New York. This is the second of five games vs. Empire State opponents on the regular season slate.
4. More Family Ties
In addition to the Simmons family's connection to the Hobart rivalry, one current member of the Orange has familial ties to the Statesmen.
Shortstick defensive midfielder Max Rosa's father Thomas is a Hobart lacrosse legend and is in the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame. He led the Statesmen to four-straight NCAA DIII Championships and was the NCAA DIII Player of the Year as a senior. He was also a three-time All-American on the Hobart football team. Rosa's brother Alex is a current member of the Hobart squad.
Max has seen his most significant action of his career this season. After being thrust to SSDM for the final four games of the 2021 campaign due to injury issues with the unit, he has emerged as one of the team's top options at the position and a strong physical defender who has played in every game this season.
5. Fan Info
Orange fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at Cuse.com/Tickets to save $5 from when you purchase at the door. Fans should also familiarize themselves with updated entry protocols, including an update to the stadium masking policy as of March 2. For details, click here.
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1. A Trophy is on the Line
Syracuse and Hobart have played near annually since 1916. Since 1986, hardware has been up for grabs in the upstate rivalry. The Kraus-Simmons 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.
The Simmons name has been synonymous with Syracuse lacrosse since nearly the program's inception. After Simmons Sr., his son Roy Simmons Jr. led the program from 1971-1998 winning six NCAA Championships. Roy Simmons III remains on staff as the current director of operations. A member of the three generations of the Simmons family has been part of the program for 92 consecutive seasons (94 in total counting Simmons Sr.'s playing days) and been part of 839 victories - more than all-but three programs in NCAA Division I history.
Syracuse has won 32 of the 35 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. The Orange retained the trophy from 2020 by beating the Statesmen 21-13.
Due to space limitations on the prior trophy, in 2019 a new base addition was installed and the trophy was updated. There are now commemorative inscriptions for Kraus and Simmons on each side, with additional space to list the winners. The cup at the top remains the original.
2. College Lacrosse's Oldest Rivalries
Syracuse and Hobart is the third-longest running rivalry in college lacrosse, with Sunday set to be the 107th meeting.
Cornell and Hobart (139 meetings) is the longest, while Johns Hopkins and Maryland (122 meetings), is now second and continues to rise as the frequency with which they play increased since joining the same conference in 2015. Behind 'Cuse and Hobart is Syracuse's series with Cornell (105 meetings) and Princeton vs. Yale (105 meetings).
Syracuse and Hobart met in the Orange's first ever organized lacrosse game. Hobart took the win 9-1 on April 29, 1916. Last year, due to schedule challenges caused by COVID protocols, was the first year that the two teams did not meet since 1985 (although to make up for it they, had played twice in 1984 in a home and home and founded the Kraus-Simmons Trophy the following year). The last season prior to 2021 that the programs did not meet without playing twice in a subsequent year was 1961.
3. State Champs
After a loss to Army on Wednesday, the Orange are looking for a change of fortune vs. in-state opponents on Sunday. In total, Syracuse is 418-162-10 vs. teams from the state of New York. This is the second of five games vs. Empire State opponents on the regular season slate.
4. More Family Ties
In addition to the Simmons family's connection to the Hobart rivalry, one current member of the Orange has familial ties to the Statesmen.
Shortstick defensive midfielder Max Rosa's father Thomas is a Hobart lacrosse legend and is in the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame. He led the Statesmen to four-straight NCAA DIII Championships and was the NCAA DIII Player of the Year as a senior. He was also a three-time All-American on the Hobart football team. Rosa's brother Alex is a current member of the Hobart squad.
Max has seen his most significant action of his career this season. After being thrust to SSDM for the final four games of the 2021 campaign due to injury issues with the unit, he has emerged as one of the team's top options at the position and a strong physical defender who has played in every game this season.
5. Fan Info
Orange fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at Cuse.com/Tickets to save $5 from when you purchase at the door. Fans should also familiarize themselves with updated entry protocols, including an update to the stadium masking policy as of March 2. For details, click here.
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