MEN’S LACROSSE TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Orange lacrosse fans can purchase 2010 men’s lacrosse season tickets beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16. Tickets will be available online at SUAthletics.com or by calling the Carrier Dome Box Office at 1-888-DOMETIX or 443-2121.

A six-game reserved season ticket is $60, while a youth (ages 12 and under) reserved season ticket is $30. A six-game season parking pass is $60, while day-of-game parking is $10.

Renewals will be mailed in late December to current season ticket holders.

Single-game general admission tickets are $10 and youth (ages 12 and under) single-game general admission tickets are $5. These tickets go on sale on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX and choosing option 1.

Syracuse University students are admitted free with a valid SU ID card. ‘Cuse Kids Club members will also be admitted for free with their membership card.

For further questions on tickets, parking or seating for people with disabilities, please call the Carrier Dome Box Office at 1-888-DOMETIX.

Syracuse opens the 2010 campaign with a 7 p.m. home game against Denver on Friday, Feb. 19.

- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: NEW YORK’S COLLEGE TEAM -

OLD RIVALS, NEW FOES DOT SYRACUSE’S 2010 SCHEDULE

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Traditional rivals as well as some more unfamiliar foes make up the crux of Syracuse’s 2010 men’s lacrosse schedule, released on Friday, Dec. 4. Longtime rivals Virginia, Johns Hopkins and Cornell highlight a slate that also features new additions like Denver and St. John’s as the Orange prepares for the inaugural season of the BIG EAST lacrosse league.

Overall, the team’s 14-game schedule includes six matchups with teams that reached the 2009 NCAA Championship and nine contests against squads that finished with at least a .500 record last season. In addition, Syracuse will play six conference games as Georgetown, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Providence Villanova and St. John’s join the Orange as members of the BIG EAST.

Syracuse begins its quest for a third straight NCAA title on Feb. 19 against Denver at the Carrier Dome, marking just the second time in school history the Orange will take on the Pioneers. The following weekend the Orange hosts Army on Feb. 28.

The Orange hits the road for the first time on March 7 at Virginia. Following its highly-anticipated showdown with the Cavaliers, Syracuse returns home on March 13 for its BIG EAST opener against Georgetown. Road dates with Johns Hopkins (March 20) and Hobart (March 23) follow before the Orange returns to conference play with a home game against Villanova (March 29).

After the Wildcats, Syracuse hosts Albany on April 3 before embarking on a challenging stretch run. Five of the Orange’s last six games are on the road and it closes the season with four straight games against BIG EAST opponents.

The late season gauntlet begins with a neutral-site game against Princeton on April 10 at the New Meadowlands Stadium. The contest is part of the Konica Minolta Big City Classic, a tripleheader that also features Delaware versus Hofstra and Virginia against North Carolina.

Three days later, on April 13, Syracuse travels to Ithaca, N.Y. to face Cornell in a rematch of last year’s national championship game won by the Orange in overtime. Syracuse will also play at Rutgers on April 18 before returning to the Carrier Dome for its home finale against Providence (April 24).

The Orange concludes the regular season with back-to-back road games at Notre Dame (May 1) and at St. John’s (May 8).

In addition to the 14 regular-season dates, the Orange will host Le Moyne and Hofstra in a three-way scrimmage on Feb. 7 and welcomes Maryland to the Carrier Dome for a scrimmage on Feb. 12.

The 2010 campaign marks the 91st varsity lacrosse season at Syracuse. The Orange tied the school record with 16 wins for the second straight season and posted an overall record of 16-2 in 2009 on its way to its second consecutive national championship.

2010 SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY MEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE

Sun., Feb. 7  Le Moyne/Hofstra   Carrier Dome  12 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 12  Maryland  Carrier Dome  12 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 19  Denver  Carrier Dome   7 p.m.
Sun., Feb 28  Army  Carrier Dome   5 p.m.
Sun., March 7  at Virginia  Charlottesville, Va  1 p.m.
Sat., March 13  Georgetown *  Carrier Dome   2 p.m.
Sat., March 20   at Johns Hopkins  Baltimore, Md.   8 p.m.
Tues., March 23   at Hobart  Geneva, N.Y.   7 p.m.
Mon., March 29  Villanova * Carrier Dome  3 p.m.

Sat., April 3  Albany   Carrier Dome  4 p.m.
Sat., April 10  vs. Princeton #  E. Rutherford, N.J.  6:30 p.m.
Tue., April 13   at Cornell   Ithaca, N.Y.   7 p.m.
Sun., April 18  at Rutgers *   Piscataway, N.J  TBA
Sat., April 24  Providence *  Carrier Dome   2 p.m.

Sat., May 1   at Notre Dame *  South Bend, Ind.  TBA
Sat. May 8   at St. John’s *  Queens, N.Y.  1 p.m.

Home games in bold
!- Scrimmage
# – Big City Classic (New Meadowlands Stadium; E. Rutherford, N.J.)
* – BIG EAST Conference game

-SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: NEW YORK’S COLLEGE TEAM-

BALTIMORE – Eight members of the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team were selected as preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse on Monday, Nov. 30. Headlining the Orange’s selections was junior longstick midfielder Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) who was picked to the first team. Syracuse and Duke each had eight players recognized by the Inside Lacrosse staff, the most of any school.

In addition to White, junior defenseman John Lade (Randolph, N.J.) and senior attackman Cody Jamieson (Six Nations, Ontario) and were picked to the second team. Junior Stephen Keogh (Toronto, Ontario) was named to the third team at attack. Junior midfielder Josh Amidon (Lafayette, N.Y.) and junior goalie John Galloway (Syracuse, N.Y.) were also named to the third team. Junior midfielder Jovan Miller (Syracuse, N.Y.) and senior defenseman Matt Tierney (Montclair, N.J.) were honorable mention choices.

White, a 2010 Orange co-captain , was a USILA Honorable Mention All-American in 2009. He finished second on the team with 63 ground balls. He also contributed five goals and three assists. As the team’s primary longstick midfielder, White helped lead a Syracuse unit that finished fourth nationally in scoring defense (7.38 gpg), the team’s highest finish since the NCAA began tracking the national leaders in 1996. White was also picked to the 2009 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team for his role in the Orange’s run to the national championship.

Lade was also a key component in Syracuse’s defense. A 2009 honorable mention All-American, Lade started all 18 games after transferring from Villanova and collected 53 ground balls, the most for an Orange close defender.

Jamieson played in six games and tallied nine goals and three assists a year ago. Eight of his goals and all three assists came in SU’s four NCAA Tournament games, including the game-winner in overtime of the national title game versus Cornell. He joined White on the 2009 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team.

Like White and Lade, Keogh was an honorable mention All-American in 2009. He led the Orange with 49 goals, tied for the seventh-best season total in school history. Keogh led the nation with 12 man-up goals and ranked fourth nationally in goals per game (2.72). He set career highs with five goals and seven total points in SU’s 2009 season-opening win against Providence.

Amidon provided some scoring punch as a member of the team’s second midfield last season. He registered 14 goals, including a pair of game-winners. Amidon also had nine assists on the year.

Miller was one of the Orange’s top defensive midfielders last season. He played in all 18 games and tallied two goals and six assists. He scooped up a career-best five ground balls in the NCAA semifinal win against Duke.

Tierney started every game last season on close defense. He was named to the NIKE/Inside Lacrosse Team of the Week for his performance in the team’s quarterfinal win against Maryland after he helped hold the Terps’ starting attack without a goal in an 11-6 Orange victory.

- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: NEW YORK’S COLLEGE TEAM -

ORANGE LACROSSE ANNOUNCES 2010 TEAM CAPTAINS

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  – Senior Chris Daniello (Cross River, N.Y.) and junior Joel White (Cortland, N.Y.) have been named captains for the 2010 season head coach John Desko announced on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Both players will serve in the role for the first time and they were each elected in a vote by their teammates.

Daniello, an attackman, had a breakout season a year ago, starting 11 of the Orange’s 18 games and tallying 24 points to help the Orange win its second straight NCAA title. He ranked fourth on the squad with 21 goals and posted four hat tricks during the regular season.

White has emerged as one of the premier longstick middies in the college game. An honorable mention All-American last season, White has 126 career ground balls and he ranked second on the Orange in that category with 63 in 2009.  He keyed an Orange defensive unit that listed fourth nationally in scoring defense and posted a 7.38 goals-against average last season.

White has also made his presence felt on offense during his career with 12 points and eight goals in his first two years. He was particularly effective in transition in 2009, finishing with five goals and three assists, including a one-goal, one-assist showing in a home win against Rutgers.

The Orange will wrap up its fall practice season with a pair of scrimmages at Navy on Saturday, Oct. 10. Syracuse will face the host Midshipmen at 12 p.m. on Rip Miller Field then face Harvard on the turf at Farragut Field beginning at 2:30 p.m.

- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY: NEW YORK’S COLLEGE TEAM -

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Former Syracuse All-American Sid Smith was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Draft held Wednesday, Sept. 9 at the HSBC Arena. Smith was selected by the Rochester Knighthawks, which owned the first and second picks in Wednesday’s night’s draft.

Smith played two seasons for the Orange and earned All-America honors both years. He anchored a defense that was vital to Syracuse’s consecutive national championships in 2008 and 2009. Both seasons, Syracuse recorded sub-8.0 goals-against averages, the first time in back-to-back years the Orange achieved that feat since 1969 and 1970.

Smith started all 36 games he played for the Orange and recorded 76 ground balls. His final collegiate ground ball was his most memorable as he stripped Cornell attackman Ryan Hurley on the first possession of overtime in the 2009 NCAA title game to set up Cody Jamieson’s (Six Nations, Ontario) game-winning goal.

With Smith going No. 1 overall, Syracuse completed a lacrosse draft sweep, boasting the top pick in both professional leagues in 2009. Former Orange attackman Kenny Nims was the No. 1 pick in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Draft by Chicago back in May.

In addition to Smith, former Syracuse standouts Dan Hardy, Matt Abbott, Scott Kahoe and Nims were selected Wednesday night. Hardy and Abbott went back-to-back in the second round to Orlando (19th overall) and Boston (20th overall). Kahoe was tabbed by Boston in the third round (33rd overall) and Nims was selected with the last pick of the fourth round (41st overall) by Orlando.

Hardy was SU’s leading midfield scorer in 2009 with 25 goals and 18 assists. He ended his career with 136 points (83g, 53a) in 64 games. Last month, he was voted the MLL Rookie of the Year after helping lead the Denver Outlaws to the MLL title game.

Abbott was a 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy finalist and a first-team All-American. He led the Orange with 77 ground balls and recorded 12 goals and 11 assists. Abbott recently completed his first professional season as a member of the MLL’s Washington Bayhawks.

Kahoe was a member of SU’s second midfield in 2009. He scored 16 points, including nine goals.

Nims was a first-team All-American in 2009 and finished second in the nation in scoring at 4.11 points per game. He scored 32 goals and had 42 assists for a total of 74 points. Nims tallied eight goals and seven assists to earn NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honors, including the tying goal with 4.5 seconds left in regulation to help lead the Orange past Cornell in the NCAA championship game.

Wednesday’s NLL Draft consisted of six rounds and 62 overall selections. The professional indoor league’s season gets underway on January 8.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – U.S. Lacrosse announced on Wednesday, June 10 the 40 players who have qualified for the 2010 U.S. men’s national training team following a three-day tryout at Bryant University. Among those named to the squad are former Syracuse standouts Matt Abbott, Steven Brooks, Mike Leveille and Ryan Powell.

The 40 players, tabbed by a 14-member player selection committee that included Orange head coach John Desko, advance with an opportunity to compete in the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championship in Manchester, England from July 10-24, 2010. Team USA will compete in three training weekends during the fall of 2009. After those three weekends, the roster will be cut to the FIL-mandated size of 23 players for the World Games.

“I want to commend our selection committee in the professionalism and unbelievable insight. It was a very difficult task to get from 84 to 40. Speaking for the coaching staff, I couldn’t be more pleased with the 40 we selected,” said Team USA head coach  Mike Pressler. “We have a heck of a group with our 40 now, and that’s our team going into the fall of ’09.”

In addition to Abbott, Brooks, Leveille and Powell, former SU stars Dan Hardy, Sean Lindsay, Brendan Loftus and Jarett Park also were invited to try out.

Abbott was part of back-to-back Orange national championships in 2008 and 2009. He earned first-team All-America honors this past season and led Syracuse with 77 ground balls. Abbott collected 12 goals and 11 assists last year, including a dazzling pass to Kenny Nims for the tying the goal with less than five seconds to play in the NCAA title game against Cornell on May 25. Two days later, he was selected with the ninth overall pick in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Draft by the Washington Bayhawks.

Leveille, Powell and Brooks are pro lacrosse veterans. Brooks and Leveille currently suit up for the Chicago Machine and Powell played for the Denver Outlaws and is now a member of Big Foot LC.

Abbott, Leveille and Brooks helped power the Orange to the NCAA Championship in 2008 while Powell was a member of the Orange’s 2000 NCAA Championship squad. Powell is one of eight members of the training team that competed on the 2006 U.S. squad that was coached by Desko.

2010 U.S. Men’s Training Team:
M Matt Abbott – Washington Bayhawks (Syracuse ’09)
M Stephen Berger – Long Island Lizards (Washington ’04)
A Ryan Boyle – Boston Cannons (Princeton ’04)
M Steven Brooks – Chicago Machine (Syracuse ’08)
A/M Kevin Buchanan – Washington Bayhawks (Ohio State ’08)
M Kevin Cassese – Boston Cannons (Duke ’03)
D Joe Cinosky – Toronto Nationals (Maryland ’09)
A/M Brandon Corp – Boston Cannons (Colgate ’09)
A/M Ned Crotty – Duke ‘09
A Matt Danowski – Long Island Lizards (Duke ’08)
G Brian Dougherty – Long Island Lizards (Maryland ’95)
D DJ Driscoll – Chicago Machine (Notre Dame ’06)
FO Chris Eck – Boston Cannons (Colgate ’08)
G Adam Fullerton – Denver Outlaws (Army ’08)
M John Glynn – Chicago Machine (Cornell ’09)
M Kyle Harrison – Denver Outlaws (Johns Hopkins ’05)
G Mickey Jarboe – Quicksilver LC (Navy ’00)
A Kevin Leveille – Chicago Machine (UMass ’03)
A Mike Leveille – Chicago Machine (Syracuse ’08)
D Eric Martin – Denver Outlaws (Salisbury ’04)
D Ryan McClay – Boston Cannons (Cornell ’03)
LSM Parker McKee – Duke ’10
A Brendan Mundorf – Denver Outlaws (UMBC ’06)
D Shawn Nadelen – Washington Bayhawks (Johns Hopkins ’01)
LSM Nick O’Hara – Toronto Nationals (Duke ’07)
M Stephen Peyser – Long Island Lizards (Johns Hopkins ’08)
D Nicky Polanco – Long Island Lizards (Hofstra ’02)
M Matt Poskay – Boston Cannons (Virginia ’06)
A Ryan Powell – Big Foot LC (Syracuse ’00)
M Paul Rabil – Boston Cannons (Johns Hopkins ’08)
D Jack Reid – Boston Cannons (Massachusetts ’06)
M Max Seibald – Denver Outlaws (Cornell ’09)
M Chris Schiller – Sailin’ Shoe LC (Penn State ’99)
FO Alex Smith – Washington Bayhawks (Delaware ’07)
M Matt Striebel – Chicago Machine (Princeton ’01)
LSM Kyle Sweeney – Boston Cannons (Georgetown ’03)
M Joe Walters – Toronto Nationals (Maryland ’06)
A Drew Westervelt – Denver Outlaws (UMBC ’07)
M Matt Zash – Long Island Lizards (Duke ’06)
D Lee Zink – Denver Outlaws (Maryland ’04)

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Syracuse Orange is the top-ranked team in the nation in both polls this week after defeating UMass, 10-3, on Saturday. Syracuse earned 152 points and four first-place votes in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) CoachesPoll and collected 295 points and 15 first-place votes in the NIKE/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll. Both polls were released on Monday, April 27.

Its the first time since this season the Orange has secured the top spot in the media rankings. Syracuse was No. 1 for three weeks earlier this season in the coaches rankings before losing to Virginia on Feb. 27.

Notre Dame and Duke are second and third, respectively, in both polls. Princeton and Virginia are tied for fourth in the USILA rankings. In the media rankings, Princeton is No. 4 with the Cavaliers checking in at No. 5.

The Orange will wrap up the 2009 regular season at home on Saturday, May 2 against Colgate.

The attendance was the 24th largest NCAA Regular Season crowd.

April 25, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. – Despite holding a 2-1 lead only 5:23 into the first quarter, the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team took over from there, scoring nine of the final 10 goals to hand #16/15 UMass a 10-3 nonconference defeat in front of a program record 13,722 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday. Jim Connolly scored two goals while Ryan Marcus added the other. The Orange (11-2) defense stole the show, holding the Minutemen scoreless for a span of 38:20 after Marcus’ goal. Goaltender Doc Schneider was sensational once again with 17 saves, 12 coming in the first half to keep the Minutemen (8-5, 5-1 ECAC) within 4-2. UMass now looks ahead to a huge showdown next Saturday at Rutgers. A win would earn the team its first ECAC Title since 2005 and conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The crowd was also the 24th biggest for an NCAA regular season college lacrosse game and 18th largest in an on-campus facility. UMass’ former record of 12,143 was set on May, 1989, also against Syracuse.

The Minutemen used a fast start for the early advantage as Connolly and Marcus scored within the game’s first six minutes. After Connolly gave UMass a 1-0 lead at 11:39, Syracuse’s Stephen Keogh answered only eight seconds later on a fast break off the faceoff win.

Marcus added his tally with a short side shot on a delayed penalty. Patrick Perritt tied the score at two at 7:39, beginning a run of seven unanswered tallies.

Schneider impressed with seven second quarter saves to keep the Minutemen within shouting distance. The lone tally by either side came from Kenny Nims.

Syracuse used three goals within 5:18 of the second half to open up a 7-2 lead. Josh Amidon made it 8-2, but Connolly answered at the 1:18 mark with his second of the game off a rebound attempt to end the 38:20 scoreless drought.

Two Stephen Keogh goals, one a highlight-reel between the legs tally, marked all the fourth quarter scoring for the 10-3 final.

Final shots were 37-30 in favor of Syracuse. Orange goalie John Galloway matched Schneider save for save with 14 stops of his own. Syracuse was 19-for-25 on clears while UMass was 18-for-20 and faceoff wins were 9-8 in favor of the Minutemen.

The Minutemen travels to Rutgers next Saturday for a huge ECAC game. Faceoff is set for 1 p.m. A win would give UMass the ECAC Championship while a loss would give Loyola the conference title. The championship would be UMass’ first since 2005 and the team’s first NCAA Tournament berth since its magical run in 2006.

Syracuse vs #16 Massachusetts (Apr 25, 2009 at Amherst, Mass.)

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#16/15 UMass Hosts NCAA Champ #3/2 Syracuse At McGuirk, Saturday At 1:30 p.m.

Minutemen have won last four games against Orange, in Amherst.

#16/15 UMASS (8-4, 5-1) vs. #3/2 SYRACUSE (10-2)
Saturday, April 25, 2009 • 1:30 p.m.
McGUIRK STADIUM (17,000) • AMHERST, Mass.
TV: CBS College Sports (Jason Chandler & Paul Carcaterra)
Radio: WRNX 100.9 FM (Josh Maurer & Norm Smith)
Live Video, Audio & Gametracker: UMassAthletics.com

#16/15 UMass Hosts NCAA Champ #3/2 Syracuse At McGuirk
• McGuirk Stadium in Amherst will be the place to be this Saturday as the UMass lacrosse team hosts defending National Champion Syracuse at 1:30 p.m. It will be “Break The Record Day” as UMass seeks to draw a home record crowd at the regular home for Minuteman football. The record of 12,143 was set on May 6, 1989 in narrow 10-9 Syracuse win over UMass, also played at McGuirk. Saturday’s game will be pivotal for NCAA Tournament berths as the Minutemen (8-4 overall) enter the game in first place in the ECAC (5-1), standing 11th in the NCAA RPI. Syracuse, which captured its 10th NCAA title last spring, is 10-2 overall and is third in the NCAA RPI. According to the polls, UMass is 16th in the USILA Coaches Poll and 15th in the Inside Lacrosse/Nike Media Poll. The Orange are third according to the Coaches and second in the media poll.

• Saturday’s game will be broadcast live nationally on CBS College Sports with Jason Chandler and Paul Carcaterra calling the action. Radio coverage for the game will be in 100.9 FM (WRNX) with Josh Maurer and former UMass All-American Norm Smith calling the action. Live streaming video, audio and Gametracker will also be available on UMassAthletics.com.

• The lacrosse Minutemen will be playing at McGuirk Stadium for the first time in 12 years as the last time “The Gorillas” played in the 17,000-seat venue was on April 26, 1997 as 5,675 came out to watch Syracuse beat UMass, 9-4. Prior to that game, the last lacrosse game at McGuirk was on May 4, 1991, also against Syracuse as 5,631 saw SU beat UMass, 13-9.

• UMass is seeking its 18th NCAA Tournament berth in 2009. The Minutemen can officially lock up a berth next Saturday in their regular-season finale at Rutgers on May 3. UMass will clinch the ECAC automatic qualifier with a win in that game, giving them a 6-1 record. UMass could possibly clinch the berth on Saturday if Loyola loses to Hobart. The Minutemen beat the Greyhounds, 8-6 on March 21 to hold the important tie-breaker.

UMass Beating NCAA Champions
• The men’s lacrosse team is seeking to become fourth UMass team to knock off a defending NCAA Champion in the 2008-09 year. The men’s basketball team, most notably, beat Kansas, 61-60 on Dec. 13, 2008. The UMass hockey team dumped Boston College, 4-3 in overtime, on Nov. 22, 2008. Most recently, the UMass softball squad beat Arizona State, 1-0 on Feb. 22, 2009.

• Overall, UMass teams are 3-4 vs. defending champions in 08-09 as the men’s soccer team lost to Wake Forest and the women’s lacrosse team was defeated by Northwestern 22-5, one month prior to this Syracuse game on March 25, 2009 — also at McGuirk Stadium. The UMass hockey team also dropped two games to Boston College in addition to the win.

• The UMass men’s lacrosse team three times beaten the reigning NCAA champion — all three times beating Syracuse as the Minutemen knocked off the Orange in 2003 and 2005 (twice) after SU won the crowns in 2002 and 2004. Prior to the UMass had lost all 13 games against defending champions.

Recent Top Attendances
• With UMass seeking to draw its biggest home crowd, the Minutemen would break the record of 12,143 set on May 6, 1989, against Syracuse. All of the biggest crowds for UMass lacrosse have been against the Orange.

• The most recent lacrosse game at McGuirk Stadium on May 4, 1997 drew 5,675. The previous game at McGuirk on May 6, 1991 brought in 5,631.

• In the most recent games between UMass and SU, held at Garber Field, UMass has drawn many crowds of more than 4,000: 1993 (4,089), 1995 (4,178), 2001 (4,723), 2005 NCAA First Round (4,038) and 2007 (4,423).

• According to various sources UMass has had more than 8,000 fans at games at Garber Field in the 1980s, but no official records are available.

• The largest crowds ever to watch UMass play came in the 2006 NCAA Semifinal and Finals at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The 2006 Final Four, where UMass beat Maryland, 8-5, drew 49,562 on May 27. For the final against Virginia, 47,062 came out to watch on Memorial Day May 29.

The Series With Syracuse
• Syracuse holds a 27-8 lead in the all-time series with UMass. UMass has won seven of the 17 games in Amherst including the last four in a row. For games played in Syracuse, the Orange leads 16-1 including an 13-0 mark at the Carrier Dome.

• The teams played every year for the past 33 seasons consecutive times, dating to April 3, 1976, UMass’ only win ever at Syracuse, 22-13. The UMass win over Syracuse in 2003 was the Minutemen’s first over Syracuse in 20 years, spanning 22 games.

• In the last game in Amherst on April 28, 2007, UMass once again posted a memorable win against the Orange as the Minutemen handed SU a 9-7 loss at Garber Field to end Syracuse’s chances at an NCAA Tournament bid as they secured a losing record. That ended Syracuse’s 24-year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances as they had made every event since 1983.Back in 2005, the Minutemen ended Syracuse’s run of 22 consecutive lacrosse Final Fours with a 16-15 victory in the NCAA First Round at Garber Field.

• UMass has won four straight games against Syracuse at Garber Field including two in 2005. UMass became the first team since North Carolina in 1991 to beat the Orange twice in a season. The Minutemen downed Syracuse, 14-13 in overtime in the regular-season game on April 30, 2005 as All-American Jeff Zywicki scored on a rebound 50 seconds into overtime for his third goal of the game. In the NCAA First Round on May 15, UMass captured a thrilling 16-15 game with Zywicki tallying six goals and All-American Sean Morris netting the game-winner with 72 seconds left in regulation. Morris had six points in the game as UMass advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals and handing Syracuse its first loss in a First Round since 1981. UMass also won the 2003 meeting in dramatic fashion in a 14-13 overtime win on a Zywicki goal 1:10 into overtime. It marked the first time in 20 years UMass had beaten the Orange and signified the first time UMass defeated a defending national champion.

The Recent Meetings Between UMass-SU
• 2008: An undermanned UMass team lost 16-3 at the Carrier Dome to the No. 1 Orange. Tim Balise had a pair of goals for the Minutemen. Mike Leveille had three goals and three assists for six points for the Orange. Steven Brooks also had a hat trick as UMass fell to 0-13 at the Dome.

• 2007: Brett Garber made his final game on his grandfather’s field one to remember as he netted a hat trick in UMass’ 9-7 win over No. 12 Syracuse on April 28, 2006. The Minutemen ended Syracuse’s run of 24 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances. Goalie Doc Schneider made 19 saves to tie his career high. With the loss, Syracuse fell to 5-7 with one game remaining making it mathematically impossible for them to finish above .500 — a prerequisite for the NCAA Tournament at-large selection. The loss also ends Syracuse’s run of 31 consecutive year of finishing without a losing record. The Minutemen would not be denied on Saturday’s Senior Day in front of a crowd of 4,438 and a national-television audience on ESPNU. After Syracuse scored the game’s first goal just 25 second into the action, UMass controlled the game for much of the afternoon. • 2006: After jumping out to a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, No. 9 Syracuse outscored No. 11 UMass, 10-3 for the remainder of the game to come up with the 12-7 victory at the Carrier Dome on April 29, 2006. All-American Sean Morris scored twice as did Brett Garber. Brian Jacovina had a career-high four assists in the loss. Syracuse’s offense was on display for much of the day as senior Brett Bucktooth scored three goals while Patrick Perritt and Brian Crockett each added two goals.

• 2005 NCAA First Round: UMass ended one of the greatest streaks in all of college sports with their dramatic 16-15 win over Syracuse in the NCAA First Round on May 15, 2005 at Garber Field. The Orange had been to 22 consecutive NCAA semifinals, dating to 1982 before falling in the first round this year. Tewaraaton Award Finalist Sean Morris scored the game-winning goal with 1:12 left in regulation to lift the Minutemen to the win. Morris finished with three goals and three assists while fellow attacker Jeff Zywicki scored a season-high six goals and added an assist for seven points.

• 2005 Regular-Season: As the rain pelted Garber Field on April 30, Jeff Zywicki tallied an overtime game-winner to defeat Syracuse, 14-13, 50 seconds into overtime. It was the second time in a row that when the two teams met on Garber Field, that UMass was victorious. Zywicki tallied three goals on the afternoon, while Sean Morris dished out three assists and found the back of the cage twice.  Chris Doyle, Pat Larmon, Gene Tundo, and Brett Garber also all hit the rain-soaked twine twice.

• 2004: UMass lost the matchup, 17-10, in the Carrier Dome.  Brett Garber tallied his first career hat trick and added an assist, and Chris Doyle found the back of the cage twice for the Minutemen, while Sean Morris dished out two assists.

• 2003: The No. 4 Minutemen defeated the Orange for just the fifth time ever, in a 14-13 overtime win. It marked the first time in 20 years UMass had beaten the Orange and signified the first time UMass defeated a defending national champion. Chris Doyle buried a hat trick, Gene Tundo scored twice and dished out an assist and Jeff Zywicki scored with 1:10 mark in overtime to claim the win.

5-Time ECAC Defensive POW, Doc up for Tewaaraton
• Tewaaraton Trophy Final Nominee Doc Schneider earned his fifth ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honor on April 13 after the 21-save effort at Hobart (4/11). Schneider has also earned the ECAC’s top weekly defensive honor four of the previous five weeks, winning it on March 2, 9, 23, 30.

• Schneider has risen to the No. 2 spot in the NCAA in save percentage with a 66.1 mark. He is also fifth in goals against average at 6.86. He leads the ECAC in goals against average and save percentage. Schneider has been sensational in ECAC play with a 72.4 save percentage mark and a 6.23 goals against average as UMass is 5-1.

• He picked up his fourth ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honor this week as he was honored after 15 saves in the 9-8 win over Penn State (3/28). Schneider racked up 12 saves in the pivotal second half.

• After his huge game at Loyola on March 21, Schneider was named the LaxNews College Beat National Player of the Week on March 22. He was also named the ECAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. Schneider was sensational in Saturday’s 8-6 UMass win at #12 Loyola with a season-high 17 saves. Schneider made 11 saves in the second half as the Greyhounds peppered him all game. Schneider allowed just six goals, the fourth time this season he has allowed six goals or less in a game.

• Schneider has at least 15 saves in seven games this season and ranks second in the ECAC in saves per game with 13.0 per game. He has allowed six or fewer goals in seven of 12 games.

• He currently stands in second on the UMass all-time saves list with 704 only trailing great Sal LoCascio who recorded an unworldly 931 stops which is the most in NCAA history. He passed Don Goldstein (622) for second all-time with a season-high 17 saves at Loyola (3/21) and moved by Tom LoPresti (562) for third with eight saves at Hofstra (2/21). He became the third goalie in UMass history with 600 career saves.

Well-Rounded Offense
• The Minutemen have had well balanced scoring all season as 15 different players have scored goals. In all 14 games last season, UMass had 13 goal scorers.

• Senior Jim Connolly leads the charge with 30 goals, 2.5 per game, which leads the ECAC and is 10th in the NCAA. Connolly has scored goals in every game this season. He leads UMass with 35 points, which is 2.92 points per game, third in the ECAC and 45th in the NCAA. Connolly has points in 20 games in a row which he has played.

• With hat tricks in three of the last five games and goals in each of the last 10 games, Tim Balise extended his point-scoring streak to 19 games with two tallies vs. Georgetown (4/18) and at Fairfield (4/21). That dates to the last seven games of last season and the first 12 this year. He is second on the team with 25 goals and 30 points. Balise is 29th in goals per game (2.09). Balise has 14 goals in the last five games including five points on four goals and an assist vs. St. John’s (4/4).

• Seniors Balise and Connolly are forming an impressive duo at attack. They have combined for 55 of the Minutemen’s 122 goals (45 percent).

• Balise is also second in the ECAC with a team-best seven man-up goals.

• Both Balise and Connolly tallied hat tricks in the wins over Penn State (3/28) and St. John’s (4/4). Balise has four hat tricks this season and 10 in his career, most recently at Hobart (4/11) while Connolly now has 11 hat tricks overall, four in 2009.

• Freshman Art Kell has goals in nine of the last 10 games. He scored at Fairfield (4/21) after he scored for the eighth consecutive game against Hobart (4/11) after picking up his first multi-goal game vs. St. John’s (4/4). Kell scored single goals in six games in a row after being held scoreless in his first two collegiate contests. Overall, Kell is the highest scoring freshman with 13 points on 10 goals and three assists.

• Junior Bobby Hayes has points in 10 of 12 games this season after a career-high tying four-point game at Fairfield (4/21) with two goals and two assists. Hayes has eight multi-point games this season. He stands sixth in the ECAC with a team-best 13 assists (1.1 per game). He is third on the team with 23 points on eight goals and a team-high 13 assists.

• Senior Evan Blum is up to fourth on the team with 19 points on 13 goals, third on team, and six assists. He comes off his first-career hat trick at Fairfield (4/21). Blum has six multi-point games this season and four multi-goal games after none in his career. Blum tallied a pair on Senior Day against Georgetown. He also had two against Sacred Heart (2/14) and Hofstra (2/21).

•  Rory Pedrick scored two goals at Fairfield (4/21) and has points in nine of the 11 games he has played this season. Overall, he has 16 points on 11 goals and five assists. He had two goals in the first two games of the season against Sacred Heart (2/14) and Hofstra (2/21).

Defense’s Shuts Down Top Guns
• Backstopped by senior goalie Doc Schneider UMass’ defense has been stellar at shutting down some of the top scorers in the NCAA. Along with Schneider, the close defense featuring senior Brennan Mack and junior All-ECAC performer Diogo Godoi have done a great job against some of the top attackmen. They have been joined by sophomore Travis Tripucka and freshman Greg Anderson on the backline.

• UMass is eighth in the NCAA in fewest goals allowed, giving up just 7.41 per game. The Minutemen have allowed less than 10 goals in eight games and less than seven in seven games.

• UMass also has seven stretches of holding opponents scoreless for more than 20 minutes with a season-long 29:01 at Loyola (3/21). They did it twice at Harvard (3/7) with marks of 22:15 and 21:54.

• Against five of the nation’s top 35 point scorers #4 Corey Small of Albany (4.0 PPG), #7 Andrew Feinberg of Brown (3.77 PPG), #16 Shane Koppens of Loyola (3.4 PPG), #34 Jeff Cohen of Harvard (3.0) and #25 Michael Karwoski of Yale (3.0) UMass has allowed just six points (two goals and four assists) — a goal and assist for Karwoski and Small as well as assists by Cohen and Feinberg — for a group that averages more than 18 points total.

• Against Loyola (3/21), Godoi kept Greyhound attacker Shane Koppens pointless, after he came into the game scoring 4.4 points per game. Koppens was limited to just one shot on goal. Also in that game, Mack kept Loyola’s Collin Finnerty to just one goal on a broken clear.

• Most recently, Godoi shutdown Georgetown’s top scorer Craig Dowd, holding him to just one assist. Dowd came into the game averaging 2.4 points per game. • Also notable, Mack, kept Brown’s Andrew Feinberg, their top scorer, without a goal in the UMass win on March 14. Feinberg is currently seventh in the NCAA in points per game (3.77) including just a single assist against UMass. Feinberg, who is sixth in goals per game (2.7) was blanked by UMass.

• Against Albany, UMass limited the Great Danes’ Corey Small to just a goal and assist. For the year, he is eighth in the NCAA with 4.0 points per game.

• The Minutemen also kept Harvard’s Greg Cohen without a goal in the win on March 7. Cohen averages 2.4 goals per game, 14th in the NCAA

Man Down Defense Dominant
• The Minutemen are ranked fifth in the NCAA in man-down defense, allowing just nine goals on 45 chances for its opponents (80.0). UMass did not give up a man-up goal in five chances at Fairfield (4/21). In six games this season, UMass has not allowed a man-down goal.

• Last year, UMass’ man down defense was also fifth in the country (.806).

Big Winners Over Last 8 Years
• UMass has established itself as one of the top programs in the nation. Since 2001, UMass has the seventh-most wins of any program in college lacrosse with 90 victories.

• The Minutemen have the ninth-best mark among all teams in the NCAA since 2001 with an 90-44 record for a 67.2 win percentage mark. That includes five seasons with 12 or more wins including a school record 13 wins in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The Minutemen were second on the list coming into the 2007 season.

Lucky Number 11
• UMass has won 43 games in a row when scoring 11 or more goals after its 12-6 wins over Fairfield (4/21) and St. John’s (4/4) along with a 18-6 win over Yale (2/28). Last season, UMass had one game with more than 11 games, a 13-8 win at St. John’s. The Minutemen had four wins in 2007 with 11 goals or more, beating Harvard (11-10), Sacred Heart (11-4), St. John’s (11-7) and Hobart (17-12). The streak goes back over the last seven years — meaning the last four senior classes have never lost when scoring 11 or more goals. UMass’ last loss when they had more than 11 came in the 2002 NCAA Quarterfinals, a 13-12 loss at Johns Hopkins.

• UMass is 32-1 in its last 33 games when scoring double-figures with a 4-1 mark this year. UMass had won 29 games in a row when scoring 10 or more goals, but that streak was snapped with a 11-10 loss to Hofstra on Feb. 21. The Minutemen were 29-0 when scoring 10 or more goals over the last six years. Prior to the loss at Hofstra, the last loss when scoring 10 goals came on May 1, 2004, a 17-10 loss at Syracuse.

Balise For Lowe’s Sr. Class Award
• UMass senior captain Tim Balise has been named a candidate for the 2009 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Balise was selected from the pool of NCAA Division I senior lacrosse athletes for his excellence in four areas: the classroom, his character, the community, and the field of competition.

• Balise not only led the Minutemen in scoring with 39 points on 33 goals last season, but also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American, ESPN The Magazine All-District First Team, and ECAC All-Conference Second Team. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages those leaders to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact on their circle of influence.

UMass To Join CAA In 2010
• The Colonial Athletic Association announced back in June that it will add UMass and Penn State as associate members in the sport of men’s lacrosse. beginning with the 2010 season. UMass and Penn State join the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Hofstra University and Towson University to form a competitive six-team conference whose champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship.

• A realignment of men’s lacrosse conferences nationally – spurred by the Big East Conference and Northeast Conference’s new sponsorship of the sport – led to the changes in CAA membership. Current members Sacred Heart and Robert Morris will move to the NEC. and Villanova will move to the Big East following the 2009 campaign.

Godoi Preseason All-ECAC Team
• UMass men’s lacrosse redshirt junior defender Diogo Godoi has been named to the preseason All-ECAC team. Godoi had the strongest season of his career in 2007 when he scooped up 27 ground balls while causing a team-leading 17 turnovers. He played in all 14 games, starting 12 of them.
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No. 4 Syracuse Holds On For 15-13 Win Versus No. 20 Albany

SYRACUSE, N.Y. The fourth-ranked Orange (10-2) survived a furious third-quarter rally to record its 10th win of the season, 15-13, against No. 20 Albany on Friday, April 17 at the Carrier Dome. The Great Danes outscored Syracuse, 8-1, in the third period, but the Orange tallied four goals in the final quarter to secure a two-goal victory.

Senior midfielder Dan Hardy (Tully, N.Y.) tied his career high with five points (3g, 2a) in the contest for Syracuse. Sophomore attackman Stephen Keogh (Toronto, Ontario) also had three goals and two assists for five points. Senior attackman Kenny Nims (Watertown, N.Y.) finished with four assists to extend his point-scoring streak to 28 games.

Syracuse entered the third quarter leading 10-2, but the momentum swung Albanys way as Brian Caufield, Luke Cometti and Matthew Cushing each scored in the first five minutes of the period to cut the SU lead to three, 10-5. A goal by junior attackman Chris Daniello (Cross River, N.Y.) briefly halted the Albany rally, but Corey Small and Joe Resetarits combined for five unanswered goals to pull the visitors within one, 11-10, entering the fourth quarter. Small had three goals in the final seven minutes of the stanza and Resetarits contributed two.

With Albany charging, the momentum turned back in Syracuses favor on a wild play to begin the fourth quarter. After the Great Danes secured the periods first faceoff, Albany defender Brendan Gleason attempted a pass back towards his own net to start a clear, but SU rookie Kevin Drew (Katonah, N.Y.) raced up from behind and checked his stick and ball fluttered into the empty Albany goal to make the score 12-10 with 14:54 left in regulation.

Drews hustle play sparked a four-goal SU run that increased the Orange margin to 15-10. Hardy was critical during the stretch scoring a goal and feeding senior Matt Abbott (Syracuse, N.Y.) for SUs final goal of the game.

Albany scored the three times in the span 4:44 to get within two, 15-13, with 2:50 remaining, but the Orange played keep away with the ball for long stretches in the final minutes to seal the win.

For Albany, Brian Caufield led the way with six points (1g, 5a), and Joe Resetarits and Corey Small each had four goals. Smalls final goal, which came late in the fourth period, was the 100th of his career.

Freshmen goalies Drew DiCioccio and John Carroll each played a half for the Great Danes. Carroll made five saves in the second half as Albany mounted its comeback. He relieved DiCioccio, who allowed 10 first-half goals in his first career start.

The Orange appeared in complete control of the game in the first half. It outshot the Great Danes, 29-10, in the opening 30 minutes and won eight of the halfs 11 faceoffs to build an eight-goal margin at the break.

Syracuse held an early 4-0 lead, scoring four times in the span four minutes midway through the first quarter.

The Orange lead swelled 6-2 in the second quarter before Keogh and Hardy fueled a four-goal scoring spurt that increased the hosts advantage to 10-2 at halftime. Keogh had two goals and an assist in the run, while Hardy scored once and also contributed a helper. However, Albany regrouped at the half to surge back into the game.

Junior Gavin Jenkinson (Stuart, Fla.) helped the Orange to a 16-13 advantage at the faceoff X Friday. Jenkinson won 12 draws in the contest, including all seven in the first quarter. Syracuse also held the advantage in ground balls over Albany, 36-30.

The Orange returns to action on Saturday, April 25. Syracuse plays its final road game of the season at Massachusetts. Faceoff is slated for 1:30 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The contest will be televised nationally on CBS College Sports.

Game Notes: The Orange improved to 7-0 all-time against the Great Danes All seven meetings have taken place at the Carrier Dome Abbott attempted his first faceoff of the year in the second quarter  Senior faceoff specialist  Jake Moulton (Camillus, N.Y.) returned to action after missing eight games due to injury and was 2-for-5 at the X  Redshirt freshman Tim Desko (Syracuse, N.Y.) tied his career high with two goals … Keogh has scored at least three goals in eight of SUs 12 games this season.