Syracuse, Duke Meet On The Big Stage

2012 Konica Minolta Big City Classic - #14 Syracuse (4-3) vs. #8 Duke (8-3)
Details	Sunday, April 1 \| E. Rutherford, N.J. \| 4 p.m. MetLife Stadium \| Tickets \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: ESPNU \| Radio: WTKW - 99.5 FM \| Video: ESPN3 Orange All Access: Audio Twitter: @Cuse
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes \| Guide
Duke Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes \| Guide

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Two college lacrosse heavyweights square off when No. 14 Syracuse and No. 8 Duke meet in the second game of the 2012 Konica Minolta Big City Classic Sunday, April 1 at MetLife Stadium. These two future conference rivals have combined to win three of the last four NCAA championships (SU - 2008, 2009; Duke - 2010). In addition, the Blue Devils and Orange rank first (70) and third (64), respectively, on the list for the most wins over the last five seasons (includes 2012).

Syracuse is looking to get back on the right track after losing in BIG EAST play for the first time, 11-10, to Villanova on March 25. The Orange carry a 4-3 overall mark into Sunday's game. Duke has won five straight, including 9-8 midweek victory over Brown, and is 8-3 overall.

Sunday'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) in Syracuse. Live streaming audio is available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.

ABOUT THE BIG CITY CLASSIC
This is the fourth year of the Konica Minolta Big City Classic, an event organized by Inside Lacrosse. This year's edition features three games: St. John's versus Notre Dame starts things off at 1 p.m., followed by Syracuse-Duke at 4 p.m. and North Carolina-Johns Hopkins at 6:30 p.m.

The Orange has been part of the Big City Classic since its inception in 2009 and holds a 2-1 all-time record in the event, including a 13-11 victory over Duke last season.

FAMILIAR FACE
Former Syracuse All-American goalie John Galloway is the volunteer assistant lacrosse coach at Duke. Galloway played for the Orange from 2008-11 and helped the team win consecutive national titles in 2008 and 2009. A two-time first-team All-American, Galloway won the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Award as the nation's best goalie twice (2010, 2011) and graduated as the NCAA all-time leader in wins (59) and minutes played (3,776).

PICK YOUR POISON
Syracuse has 17 players with at least one goal and 20 with at least one point so far this season. It's the seventh time since 2003 at least 17 members of the Orange roster have found the cage, and the sixth time at least 20 have recorded a point.

The Orange features two double-digit goal scorers (Derek Maltz - 13, Tim Desko - 11) and four double-digit point producers (Maltz - 19, JoJo Marasco - 16, Tommy Palasek - 16, Desko - 14).

PALASEK HEATING UP
After scoring nine points in SU's first five games, senior attackman Tommy Palasek has seven points, including four goals, in SU's last two outings. For the season, Palasek is tied with JoJo Marasco for second on the team in scoring with 16 points (6g, 10a).

SECOND MIDFIELD COMING ALIVE
Former West Genesee High School teammates Ryan Barber and Luke Cometti are running together on the second midfield line this season and have been the unit's most productive players. Cometti has five goals and Barber has four goals and one assist. Add in junior Matt Pratt (2g) and sophomore Scott Loy (1g) and Syracuse's second midfield has produced 13 points this year, including 12 goals.

SCOUTING DUKE
The Blue Devils are riding a five-game winning streak and enter Sunday's contest ninth nationally in scoring at 11.6 goals per game. Duke is also one of the best teams in the country at picked up ground balls. The Blue Devils are seventh in the NCAA at 34.1 ground balls per game.

Josh Dionne (23 goals) Jordan Wolf (21 goals) and Robert Rotanz (21 goals) all have at least 20 goals this season and Wolf ranks second in the ACC in scoring (3.5 ppg). Wolf is the reigning ACC Player of the Week after putting up 16 points in three games, including seven against Dartmouth. In addition, CJ Costabile is one of the top all-round players in the country. The longstick midfielder leads Duke in ground balls (67), has won 70-of-125 faceoffs (.560) and has five points, including four goals.

The Blue Devils have three goalies that have started at least twice this season. Dan Wigrizer has six starts. He boasts a .538 save percentage and a 8.78 goals-against average. Kyle Turri (.417 save percentage, 9.48 GAA) and Mike Rock (.532 save percentage, 9.50 GAA) have also taken their turns between the pipes.

Head coach John Danowski is in his sixth season at Duke. He ranks third on NCAA Division I career wins list with 307 victories. Overall, Danowski is 307-161, including a 88-22 record since taking over the Blue Devils in 2007. He's guided the team to two NCAA championship game appearances (2007, 2010) and brought home the program's first national championship in 2010.

THE DUKE SERIES
Syracuse has won six of the seven all-time meetings with the Blue Devils, including the last five. The Orange's only loss in the series was back in 1978. Three of the last four pairings have occurred in the NCAA playoffs, including a dominating 17-7 Orange victory in the 2009 NCAA semifinals at Gillette Stadium.

UP NEXT ...
Syracuse returns home to the Carrier Dome to take on the Princeton Tigers at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 7.

Syracuse University Athletics

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