Syracuse University
#5 Princeton
Syracuse-Princeton Rivalry Renewed On Grand Stage
4/9/2010 8:20:56 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Listen Live | Game Notes | Live Stats
E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - No. 3 Syracuse (7-1) squares off against No. 5 Princeton (7-1) in the nightcap of the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 10 at New Meadowlands Stadium. The lacrosse tripleheader is the first sporting event to take place at the new home of the NFL's Giants and Jets. The Orange carries a five-game winning streak into the contest, while Princeton has won its last three.
Saturday's game will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. Fans can also hear the action live on the radio home of the Orange - TK 99 (99.5 FM). Live streaming audio of the radio broadcast is available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.
ABOUT THE BIG CITY CLASSIC
This is the second year of the Big City Classic, an event organized by Inside Lacrosse. It features three games. No. 10 Hofstra and Delaware kick things off at 1 p.m. with No. 1 Virginia and No. 2 North Carolina following at 4 p.m. No. 3 Syracuse and No. 5 Princeton is the nightcap. They will take the field at 6:30 p.m. The last two games are televised live on ESPNU and feature the top four teams in the NIKE/Inside Lacrosse Poll.
NOTE: The Syracuse Athletic Communications Office uses the USILA Coaches Poll to reflect teams rankings at the time of the game. Princeton is No. 5 in this week's coaches poll.
The same six teams took part in the inaugural event last season at Giants Stadium. The tripleheader drew an NCAA regular-season record crowd for a lacrosse-only event (22,308). Princeton won last year's matchup with Syracuse, 12-8.
ORANGE IN THE APPLE
In addition to spreading the game of lacrosse, the Orange's participation in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic is one of the many steps taken by SU Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross to brand the Orange as “New York's College Team.” His initiatives have been heavily focused in the New York metro area. Consider:
The Orange football team will play three games at New Meadowlands Stadium in the coming years (USC in 2012; Notre Dame in 2014 and 2016).
“Orange is in the Apple” campaign. Started in 2005 and includes strategic advertisements and business partnerships in and around New York City.
The men's basketball team has an overall record of 87-78 all-time at Madison Square Garden. The team played three times there in 2009-10 and won the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in November.
Head football coach Doug Marrone is a native of the Bronx and was an assistant coach with the New York Jets from 2002-05.
Sixteen players on the Orange lacrosse roster hail from the New York City area, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The New York metro area is one of Syracuse University's largest alumni bases with approximately 30,000 strong in the region, including several former men's lacrosse players.
The last two NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Players work in the area. Mike Leveille (2008) works for the accounting firm KPMG in Manhattan and Kenny Nims (2009) is employed by NewEdge USA, a brokerage firm also located in Manhattan.
FILLING THE TROPHY CASE
Overall, Syracuse and Princeton have combined to win 16 of the last 22 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.
MORE ON THE SYRACUSE-PRINCETON SERIES
The Orange has won five of the last seven meetings with the Tigers and holds a 16-9 advantage in the all-time series. Ten of the 25 meetings in the series 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.
X MARKS THE SPOT
Syracuse leads the BIG EAST and ranks fifth nationally in faceoff winning percentage. The Orange has won 59.1 percent (120-203) of its draws this year. The Orange boast the top two faceoff men in the BIG EAST. Junior Jeremy Thompson leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally (.616, 53-86). Senior Gavin Jenkinson is second in the league and 11th nationally (.592, 58-98).
BALANCE IS THE KEY
A total of 16 Syracuse players have at least one goal this season and 17 members of the Orange roster have recorded at least one point. Seven players have at least 10 points and seven have at least nine goals. Senior Chris Daniello (24) is SU's points leader. Junior Stephen Keogh leads the way with 22 goals.
KILLING THEM SOFTLY
Junior midfielder Jovan Miller has been a steady leader for the Orange all season. Offensively, he's quietly scored 12 points, including nine goals, as a member of the first midfield. He's also one of the team's top defensive middies. Miller has six goals in the last three games, equaling his career best with a pair of tallies at Hobart (March 23), versus Villanova (March 29) and against Albany (April 3). In the Albany game, Miller matched his career high with three points.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Under the direction of first-year coach Chris Bates, the Tigers are off to a 7-1 start. Princeton's only blemish is a one-goal loss to No. 2 North Carolina on March 16. Bates replaced Bill Tierney last summer after Tierney accepted the head coaching job at Denver.
The Tigers boast four double-digit goal scorers led by cousins Jack and Chris McBride. Both are attackman. Jack McBride leads the team with 18 goals, while Chris has 14. Middies Mike Chanenchuk (14g) and Jeff Froccaro (11g) round out Princeton's double-digit goal scorers. Attackman Rob Engelke leads the club with 13 assists.
Defensively, Long Ellis has 17 ground balls and leads the squad with 13 caused turnovers. Goalie Tyler Fiorito has 78 saves and sports an 8.62 goals-against average. Fiorito tallied 15 saves against the Orange last season.
