OrangeXtreme
The Mayor of Dewitt
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No. 4 Duke at No. 1 Syracuse
Sunday, March 22 at 12:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday marks 365 days since Syracuse lost its last regular season game, and its last defeat was a memorable one: A 21-7 drubbing courtesy of the Duke Blue Devils, the most lopsided Orange loss in more than 30 years.
Just like this time last year, the 7-1 Blue Devils enter this weekend No. 4 in the Cascade/Maverik Media Poll, but the Orange (in 2014, 4-2 and ranked sixth) find themselves at the top of the pack, 6-0 and No. 1 for the third straight week.
The key difference from last year’s matchup is at the face-off X, where not only do the Orange no longer have to contend with Brendan Fowler’s well-publicized dominance, but they also rely upon the services of sophomore Ben Williams, the Holy Cross transfer who was just added to the Tewaaraton Watch List and is currently winning 69% of his draws. The Blue Devils haven’t experienced much of a decline on their side, however, as Fowler’s replacement Jack Rowe is currently winning 60%.
Syracuse boasts the fifth-highest scoring offense in the country (14.8 goals per game; the Blue Devils, it should be noted, average 16, which is third-highest), but they may be forced to contend this weekend without attackman Randy Staats, who, as of Wednesday, was yet to practice with the team this week. Staats, who has a history of lower-body injuries and played last season wearing a knee brace, was seen wearing a sleeve on his knee during last weekend’s 13-10 victory over Johns Hopkins.
While last year’s Syracuse squad was forced to deal with a logjam at the attack position, the same can’t be said this season; with Nicky Galasso having made what appears to be a complete transition to the starting midfield, the fourth-most productive attackman thus far would be redshirt freshman J.T. Forkin, who has scored three goals and an assist.
http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/weekend-watch-syracuse-faces-toughest-test-and-more/31356
Sunday, March 22 at 12:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday marks 365 days since Syracuse lost its last regular season game, and its last defeat was a memorable one: A 21-7 drubbing courtesy of the Duke Blue Devils, the most lopsided Orange loss in more than 30 years.
Just like this time last year, the 7-1 Blue Devils enter this weekend No. 4 in the Cascade/Maverik Media Poll, but the Orange (in 2014, 4-2 and ranked sixth) find themselves at the top of the pack, 6-0 and No. 1 for the third straight week.
The key difference from last year’s matchup is at the face-off X, where not only do the Orange no longer have to contend with Brendan Fowler’s well-publicized dominance, but they also rely upon the services of sophomore Ben Williams, the Holy Cross transfer who was just added to the Tewaaraton Watch List and is currently winning 69% of his draws. The Blue Devils haven’t experienced much of a decline on their side, however, as Fowler’s replacement Jack Rowe is currently winning 60%.
Syracuse boasts the fifth-highest scoring offense in the country (14.8 goals per game; the Blue Devils, it should be noted, average 16, which is third-highest), but they may be forced to contend this weekend without attackman Randy Staats, who, as of Wednesday, was yet to practice with the team this week. Staats, who has a history of lower-body injuries and played last season wearing a knee brace, was seen wearing a sleeve on his knee during last weekend’s 13-10 victory over Johns Hopkins.
While last year’s Syracuse squad was forced to deal with a logjam at the attack position, the same can’t be said this season; with Nicky Galasso having made what appears to be a complete transition to the starting midfield, the fourth-most productive attackman thus far would be redshirt freshman J.T. Forkin, who has scored three goals and an assist.
http://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/weekend-watch-syracuse-faces-toughest-test-and-more/31356
