PRINCETON, N.J. – Two of the most
highly decorated programs in college lacrosse square off when Syracuse (6-2)
visits Princeton Stadium for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Tigers (6-2) on Saturday,
April 6. The Orange (11) and Tigers (6) have won 17 NCAA championships between
them. In addition, the two schools have combined for 52 NCAA Tournament
appearances.
Saturday's game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. Fans can also hear the action live on the radio home of the Orange - ESPN Radio (97.7 FM). Live audio is available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.
EVEN STEVEN
The game is set up to be a duel between two remarkably similar teams. Both are 6-2 overall. SU's two losses have both been by a goal as have Princeton's two defeats. Both sides are 2-1 in conference play with SU winning two of its three BIG EAST encounters and Princeton claiming two of its three Ivy League contests. The Orange and Tigers also share the No. 8 ranking in this week's USILA Coaches' Poll.
On the field, Syracuse has 101 goals on the year while Princeton has scored even 100. Both sides are averaging 20.1 points per game, and the teams are separated by less than a half a goal in goals-against average (SU - 8.61, Princeton - 9.00). Midfielders are the catalysts for both teams as senior JoJo Marasco (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) leads SU in scoring (26 points) and Tom Schreiber paces Princeton (33 points).
FILLING THE TROPHY CASE
Overall, Syracuse and Princeton have combined to win 17 of the last 25 NCAA championships. The two teams have played one another for the national title four times (1992, 2000, 2001, 2002). The two sides split those meetings with SU winning in 2000 and 2002, and the Tigers emerging victorious in 1992 and 2001.
DYNAMIC
DUO
Marasco and sophomore Kevin Rice (Skaneateles, N.Y.) have combined for 49 of SU's 161 points this season (30.4 pct.). Marasco has a team-leading 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) and Rice has 23 (10 goals, 13 assists). They are the only two players thus far with at least 20 points. In addition, the pair is responsible for more than half the team's assists (31-60).
RICE TREATS
Rice has been on a roll lately. The sophomore attackman has 13 points (4.3 ppg) in SU's last three games. Against Canisius on March 29, Rice totaled a personal-best six points. He recorded his first career hat trick with three goals and matched his career high with three assists. Rice has been selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll each of the last two weeks.
MALTZ TAKES OVER TEAM GOALS LEAD
Junior attackman Derek Maltz (Ashburn, Va.) scored a season-high four goals to help lead the Orange past Canisius on March 29. It was Maltz's sixth career hat trick and his second of the season. The performance also catapulted Maltz into the team lead for goals scored with 14.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Princeton has won its last two since losing 11-10 to Penn on March 16. The Tigers are 6-2 overall and both of their losses have been by a goal. Princeton also dropped a 16-15 decision to North Carolina on March 9. The Tigers are averaging 12.5 goals per contest and rank third in the nation in assists per game (7.75).
Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American Tom Schreiber (33 points) leads four Tigers with at least 20 points this season. Attackman Mike MacDonald is second on the club in scoring with 30 points, including a team best 21 goals. Midfielder Jeff Froccaro (20 goals, six assists) and attackman Ryan Ambler (10 goals, 12 assists) are the other two 20-point scorers for the Tigers.
Derek Raabe is Princeton's top defender with 36 ground balls. Rookie goalie Matt O'Connor has been solid in the cage with 78 saves and a .527 save percentage.
Fourth-year head coach Chris Bates is 32-20 since replacing Bill Tierney as the Tigers' head coach in 2010. He's guided Princeton to two Ivy League titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in his first three full seasons.
THE SERIES
The Orange has won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Tigers and holds a 19-9 advantage in the all-time series. Ten of the 28 series meetings have come in the NCAA playoffs. In 1999, the two clubs played an epic four-overtime game won by the Tigers, 15-14, which stands as the longest game in SU history.
UP NEXT ...
Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome to face Central New York rival Cornell Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. The matchup is ESPNU's "Warrior Game of the Week."
Saturday's game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. Fans can also hear the action live on the radio home of the Orange - ESPN Radio (97.7 FM). Live audio is available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.
EVEN STEVEN
The game is set up to be a duel between two remarkably similar teams. Both are 6-2 overall. SU's two losses have both been by a goal as have Princeton's two defeats. Both sides are 2-1 in conference play with SU winning two of its three BIG EAST encounters and Princeton claiming two of its three Ivy League contests. The Orange and Tigers also share the No. 8 ranking in this week's USILA Coaches' Poll.
On the field, Syracuse has 101 goals on the year while Princeton has scored even 100. Both sides are averaging 20.1 points per game, and the teams are separated by less than a half a goal in goals-against average (SU - 8.61, Princeton - 9.00). Midfielders are the catalysts for both teams as senior JoJo Marasco (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) leads SU in scoring (26 points) and Tom Schreiber paces Princeton (33 points).
FILLING THE TROPHY CASE
Overall, Syracuse and Princeton have combined to win 17 of the last 25 NCAA championships. The two teams have played one another for the national title four times (1992, 2000, 2001, 2002). The two sides split those meetings with SU winning in 2000 and 2002, and the Tigers emerging victorious in 1992 and 2001.
DYNAMIC
DUOMarasco and sophomore Kevin Rice (Skaneateles, N.Y.) have combined for 49 of SU's 161 points this season (30.4 pct.). Marasco has a team-leading 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) and Rice has 23 (10 goals, 13 assists). They are the only two players thus far with at least 20 points. In addition, the pair is responsible for more than half the team's assists (31-60).
RICE TREATS
Rice has been on a roll lately. The sophomore attackman has 13 points (4.3 ppg) in SU's last three games. Against Canisius on March 29, Rice totaled a personal-best six points. He recorded his first career hat trick with three goals and matched his career high with three assists. Rice has been selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll each of the last two weeks.
MALTZ TAKES OVER TEAM GOALS LEAD
Junior attackman Derek Maltz (Ashburn, Va.) scored a season-high four goals to help lead the Orange past Canisius on March 29. It was Maltz's sixth career hat trick and his second of the season. The performance also catapulted Maltz into the team lead for goals scored with 14.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Princeton has won its last two since losing 11-10 to Penn on March 16. The Tigers are 6-2 overall and both of their losses have been by a goal. Princeton also dropped a 16-15 decision to North Carolina on March 9. The Tigers are averaging 12.5 goals per contest and rank third in the nation in assists per game (7.75).
Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-American Tom Schreiber (33 points) leads four Tigers with at least 20 points this season. Attackman Mike MacDonald is second on the club in scoring with 30 points, including a team best 21 goals. Midfielder Jeff Froccaro (20 goals, six assists) and attackman Ryan Ambler (10 goals, 12 assists) are the other two 20-point scorers for the Tigers.
Derek Raabe is Princeton's top defender with 36 ground balls. Rookie goalie Matt O'Connor has been solid in the cage with 78 saves and a .527 save percentage.
Fourth-year head coach Chris Bates is 32-20 since replacing Bill Tierney as the Tigers' head coach in 2010. He's guided Princeton to two Ivy League titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in his first three full seasons.
THE SERIES
The Orange has won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Tigers and holds a 19-9 advantage in the all-time series. Ten of the 28 series meetings have come in the NCAA playoffs. In 1999, the two clubs played an epic four-overtime game won by the Tigers, 15-14, which stands as the longest game in SU history.
UP NEXT ...
Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome to face Central New York rival Cornell Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. The matchup is ESPNU's "Warrior Game of the Week."
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