Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse

Syracuse Orange
Founded 1916
Conference Big East
Location Syracuse, New York
Coach John Desko (since 1998)
Stadium Carrier Dome
(capacity: 49,250)
Nickname Orange
Colors Orange and Blue
         
Pre-NCAA Era Champions
1920, 1922, 1924, 1925
NCAA Tournament Champions
1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009
NCAA Tournament Runner-Up
1984, 1985, 1992, 1999, 2001
NCAA Tournament Final Fours
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Conference Regular Season Champions
2011

The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse conference. Syracuse plays its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.

History

Syracuse played its first intercollegiate lacrosse game in 1916, and captured its first United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) championship in 1920. It would go on to win USILA championships in 1922, 1924, and 1925.[1] In the modern NCAA era, Syracuse has won ten national championship titles, in 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2009, with one additional championship in 1990 vacated due to NCAA rules infractions after an investigation revealed that Nancy Simmons, the wife of Coach Roy Simmons Jr., had co-signed a car loan for the team's star player, Paul Gait, in the 1990 season. However, Syracuse continues to include this championship in internal totals.[2]

The Orange's ten national championship titles are the most of any team in NCAA Division I history.[3]

Since 1916 until present, Syracuse has had four head coaches: Laurie D. Cox (1916–1930), 116-40-14 record, .724 winning percentage; Roy Simmons, Sr. (1931–1970), 253-130-1 record, .660 winning percentage; Roy Simmons, Jr. (1971–1998), 290-96-0 record, .751 winning percentage; and John Desko (1999–present), 102-38-0 record, .729 winning percentage. As of 2010, those coaches combined for a 806-309-15 record, which is a .723 winning percentage, with 14 total national titles.

Syracuse is one of seven Big East Conference schools that formally began competing in men's lacrosse in 2010. Previously, Syracuse men's lacrosse had remained independent (i.e., unaffiliated with any athletic conference). The other six Big East schools are Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, and Villanova.

In the school's history, 12 players have been four-time All-Americans: Brad Kotz (1982-85), John Zulberti (1986-89), Gary Gait (1987-90), Pat McCabe (1988-91), Tom Marechek (1989-92), Charlie Lockwood (1991-94), Roy Colsey (1992-95), Ric Beardsley (1992-95), Casey Powell (1995-98), Ryan Powell (1997-00), Michael Springer (2000-03), and Mike Powell (2001-04).

Syracuse has also produced two Tewaaraton Trophy winners: Mike Powell (2002, 2004) and Mike Leveille (2008).

Twenty Orange players are enshrined in the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame: Laurie D. Cox (year inducted - 1957), Irving Lydecker (1960), Frederick A. Fitch (1961), Victor Ross (1962; a three-time All American), David Periard Sr. (1964), Evan Corbin Sr. (1965), Victor J. Jenkins (1967), William N. Ritch (1972), Louis Robbins (1975), Stewart Lindsay Jr. (1977), William L. Fuller (1982), Jim Brown (1984), Ron Fraser (1987), Roy Simmons Jr. (1991), Oren R. Lyons (1992), Dick Finley (1999), Brad Kotz (2001), Gary Gait (2005), Thomas Ortese (2005), and Pat McCabe (2006). Only Johns Hopkins (63) and Maryland (31) have more inductees in the Hall of Fame.

One notable tradition of the Syracuse program is the number 22 jersey, which is given to the player who is expected to be the team's best overall player. The number has been worn by Gary Gait, Charlie Lockwood, Casey Powell, Ryan Powell, Mike Powell, Dan Hardy, Cody Jamieson, and most recently Jojo Morasco.

References

  1. ^ Prior to 1971, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) selected the national champion. From 1934 through 1970, the USILA awarded the Wingate Memorial Trophy to the NCAA Division I annual champion, based on regular-season records. Since 1971, the annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament has determined the national champion. The Wingate Memorial Trophy was also presented to the first two NCAA champions (1971 and 1972) and was then retired.
  2. ^ "Syracuse Loses Lacrosse Title". The New York Times. 1995-06-11. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/11/sports/syracuse-loses-lacrosse-title.html. Retrieved 2010-05-25. 
  3. ^ "Division I Men's Lacrosse History". NCAA. 2008. http://www.ncaa.com/history/m-lacrosse-d1.html. Retrieved 2008-12-17. 

External links