2026 Syracuse Lacrosse Schedule

[Powellfan]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Men’s Lacrosse Announces 2026 Schedule - Syracuse University Athletics

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse University men's lacrosse head coach Gary Gait , now in his fifth year as the head coach for the men's team, has announced the sche...

cuse.com

 

[Powellfan]

 

[Cuse4455]

That is a Very Very hard schedule! Reminds me of Gary's Women's Schedule.

 

[orange79]

As I said in another thread that guessed the schedule, 5 weeks without a home game is not just challenging, it's also just plain weird.

 

[Cuse4455]

I hate the 6 away games in a row. Nothing like killing the fan interest than playing a whole month away from the Dome. Feels like the Cuse football schedule, after that month my hype/ interest in heading to the Dome fades.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Main complaint is not finding a way to play Cornell. Wish we had them somewhere instead of doing this Princeton Penn 3 day thing/adding Georgetown. Also don't love having to play Denver on short rest 3 days after Air Force. Denver is not all that right now but it will still be a tough game, especially with the Hop game the previous week. Then you have GTown right after! I guess maybe the entire out west trip feels a little unnecessary. It's likely they will not be super relevant wins, so what is the point? Wish we were spending that time in the cuse focusing on the ACC gauntlet ahead.

 

[Powellfan]

I hate the 6 away games in a row. Nothing like killing the fan interest than playing a whole month away from the Dome. Feels like the Cuse football schedule, after that month my hype/ interest in heading to the Dome fades.

The long road trip feels a bit misleading. The Penn/Princeton thing feels like it should count as one true trip, and same with the Air Force and Denver games. Yes, it's a long way from the Dome, but I think they are making the most out of the miles traveled. I don't mind it, Duke and UNC did the same thing last year with Penn and Princeton and hopefully the quick turnaround "steels" the team for an ACC tournament run, or better yet, an NCAA one.

 

[nyclax]

its good that the princeton game is first. i wouldnt want to play them on one day's rest. but they shouldnt have a problem with penn...

this is the type of schedule they need to give them the best opportunity at a top 2 ncaa seed and an ideal path to the title game

 

[LSyndicateM]

Main complaint is not finding a way to play Cornell. Wish we had them somewhere instead of doing this Princeton Penn 3 day thing/adding Georgetown. Also don't love having to play Denver on short rest 3 days after Air Force. Denver is not all that right now but it will still be a tough game, especially with the Hop game the previous week. Then you have GTown right after! I guess maybe the entire out west trip feels a little unnecessary. It's likely they will not be super relevant wins, so what is the point? Wish we were spending that time in the cuse focusing on the ACC gauntlet ahead.

If they're truly the best team in the country this year, none of this should matter.

 

[cusefan88]

Family commitments preclude my ability to get season tickets but I will definitely make the Maryland game. Hopefully exacting some revenge.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

As I said in another thread that guessed the schedule, 5 weeks without a home game is not just challenging, it's also just plain weird. View attachment 258105

More time for Monster Trucks..

 

[JeremyCuse]

If they're truly the best team in the country this year, none of this should matter.

They're are top 3 team for sure but Maryland and Princeton will also be excellent and UNC has a ton of talent. Gonna be some ups and downs with this schedule especially if there's a few injuries as depth is there but needs time.

 

[Powellfan]

Can anyone access this?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Can anyone access this?

Looks like a free article

https://www.syracuse.com/orangelacrosse/2025/12/axe-gary-gait-put-together-one-of-the-hardest-syracuse-lacrosse-schedules-ever-for-a-reason.html

 

[JeremyCuse]

Can anyone access this?

Just Gait confirming the schedule is set up for RPI purposes and the NCAA tourney selection purposes (stuff we obviously knew beforehand).

 

[JeremyCuse]

Now that its official a few general thoughts.

I figured Gait was gonna schedule like Desko did in the mid 2010s a few times when he had a Champ caliber team so I am not overly surprised by the schedule.

I think overall it's a very good schedule and one set up for tourney purposes as nyclax pointed out.

A couple of pros and cons as I see it with the schedule.

LIke the variety of opponents SU is going to see and different styles. Should be a big help come tourney time. Also there's opportunities if SU runs into a rough patch early to potentially get some quality wins in Hop/Denver etc later in the schedule.

I am probably in the minority on this one but I would have preferred to see a true cupcake in game 1. Yes I know this team should be able to comfortably beat BU if it's a true championship contender but weird things can happen in opening games ( SU has plenty of examples of this) and BU is no pushover who brings back a lot. Even though SU returns a lot I always prefer a game to work out the kinks so to speak. They will definitely be challenged from the start.

I like that we essentially have no mid week games. With this gauntlet OOC you need time to rest and recover. Yes there are the two games played within a few days Penn/Princ and AF and Denver but you don't get that Sat/Tuesday turnaround where the better team is usually sloppy and definitely the hunted.

I think it's great Gtown is back on the schedule and with Colgate Bros in the fold they should be an excellent team and Dark horse title contender. Not sure I would have added them and re-upped the Maryland matchup though. At a certain point it does feel a little bit like overkill especially once you added Princeton into the fold. Not sure SU needed to play Gtown, Maryland and Princeton, 2 out of the 3 would have been more than sufficient. I worry about fatigue setting in a bit especially in that middle part of the schedule.

Like that they have Gate late in the season. Keeps one of the classic NY matchups in the fold. Gate will play hard and that 12 man will cause problems but they also lost a ton to graduation and transfers. Gives a late breather (hopefully) type game before ND and the ACC tourney.

I think getting off to a strong start is gonna be imperative with this type of schedule. If you drop a game you shouldn't things can snowball quickly (see UVA last year). I tend to try and break the schedule into 4-5 games sections. If you look at the first 6 games its 3 home and 3 road ending with the IVY weekend vs Penn. Think SU needs at minimum to be 4-2 after those games and preferably 5-1. That Maryland, Harvard, Princeton stretch is tough to say the least, can't under any circumstance get shut out there.

 

[orange79]

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/syracuse-releases-gauntlet-of-a-2026-regular-season-schedule/66128

 

[ColdAnger]

Love the schedule! Love the crucible of competition. Love the road trips ... few fonder memories than trips with the brotherhood, team meals, team down time, and the team activities that happen between the games. It's freakin' 'Cuse baby ... we should play everybody!