91社区

91社区鈥檚 men鈥檚 lacrosse team will play a 14-game slate this spring, highlighted by eight home games at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

鈥淟ike each year, we want to play a schedule against some of the better teams across the country,鈥� head coach Scott Nelson said. 鈥淚 think we have really done that this year and fully expect us to be ready for the challenge. Our goal has always been to qualify for the America East tournament and that鈥檚 where our focus lies as we prepare for the season.鈥�

91社区 has a total of nine non-conference games in 2014, including a showdown with national power Syracuse University on April 9 at the Carrier Dome. It will mark the fourth time the two programs have met and the first time the two teams have squared off since 2009. However, the first game on 91社区鈥檚 calendar will be the season-opener on the road at Sacred Heart on Saturday, Feb. 15.

The Bearcats will play in front of their home crowd for the first time in 2014 against Siena at noon Feb. 22. This will be a rematch of last season鈥檚 opener, a game in which the Bearcats were defeated 9-8 on the road. Just three days later, they also welcome Cornell to Vestal for a non-conference tilt. The Big Red are fresh off a 14-4 season in which they advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

After a trip to Geneva to play the Hobart Statesmen (March 1), 91社区 will have a three-game homestand against Delaware (March 8), Colgate (March 15) and Air Force (March 22). All games have a 1 p.m. start time.

America East conference play will begin on the road for the Bearcats, pitting them against Hartford on March 29. 91社区 has enjoyed much success over the Hawks in the past, tallying an all-time record of 8-4, including a 4-3 mark on the road. Up next will be a home match against UMBC. The Retrievers tallied a seven-win season in 2013 and made it all the wayto the America East championship game, where they were upended by Albany, 19-10.

91社区 plays at Vermont on April 6 and once again at home for a non-conference bout with Canisius (April 15) under the lights at the Bearcats Sports Complex. Matchups with Stony Brook at home on April 19 and on the road at defending America East champs Albany the following Saturday close out the regular season for 91社区.

91社区 comes off a season in which it finished 5-9 (1-4 in the America East), falling one game shy of reaching the conference tournament. The Bearcats return a veteran squad, complete with nine starters back for the 2014 season. Nine seniors headline the team, which is captained by four-year players Mike Antinozzi, Greg Cove, Kelly Donigan and Matt Springer.