SU, Rutgers Meet At ESPNU Warrior Classic

2012 ESPNU Warrior Classic - #13 Syracuse (5-5, 2-1 BIG EAST) vs. Rutgers (5-7, 1-3 BIG EAST)
Details	Saturday, April 14 \| Charlotte, N.C. \| 11 a.m. American Legion Memorial Stadium \| Tickets \| Weather
Game Coverage	TV: ESPNU \| Radio: WTKW - 99.5 FM \| Video: ESPN3 Orange All Access: Audio \| Live Stats Twitter: @Cuse
Syracuse Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes \| Guide
Rutgers Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| Stats \| Notes \| Guide

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 13 Syracuse (5-5, 2-1 BIG EAST) continues its three-game road trip with a neutral-site clash against Rutgers (5-7, 1-3 BIG EAST) on Saturday, April 14 in the opening game of the 2012 ESPNU Warrior Classic at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. It's a crucial conference matchup as both sides look to take another step toward earning a berth in the inaugural BIG EAST Tournament.

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

ABOUT THE ESPNU WARRIOR CLASSIC
This is the third year of the ESPNU Warrior Classic and the second straight season Syracuse faces Rutgers as part of the event. The Orange and Scarlet Knights square off at 11 a.m. followed by North Carolina and Hofstra at 1:30 p.m.

The first two ESPNU Warrior Classic doubleheaders were held at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., home of the University of Connecticut football team. Syracuse defeated the Scarlet Knights, 12-2, in the second game of last year's event.

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATES MEET AGAIN
SU junior defenseman Brian Megill could find himself guarding a former high school teammate Saturday. Megill and twin brothers Scott and Matt Klimchak of Rutgers all hail from Clark, N.J. and played together at Arthur L. Johnson High School. Megill has started every game of his SU career at close defense and Scott Klimchak (19g, 5a) is one of Rutgers' starting attackmen. Matt Klimchak has not appeared in a game for the Scarlet Knights this season.

DONAHUE KNOWS RUTGERS WELL
Senior Collin Donahue played two years at Rutgers before transferring to Syracuse prior to the 2010 season. He registered seven goals and four assists in 17 career games for the Scarlet Knights in 2008 and 2009. Donahue netted two goals against his former team in last year's 12-2 Orange victory over Rutgers.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Through Syracuse's first 10 games, the Orange have been led offensively primarily by senior attackman Tommy Palasek and sophomore attackman Derek Maltz. Palasek leads SU in both assists (14) and points (29). He had a team-high three points (1g, 2a) Tuesday at Cornell, and has 20 points in the last five games. Maltz owns the team goals lead (16) and has scored at least once in nine of the Orange's 10 outings.

Junior defenseman Brian Megill, an Inside Lacrosse Midseason First Team All-American, anchors the Orange defense. Megill holds the team lead in caused turnovers (24) and has also picked up 28 ground balls. Against Cornell, Megill combined with true freshman Brandon Mullins to hold Steve Mock, the Big Red's leading scorer, without a point.

With sophomore Matt Harris, the team's ground ball leader (32), seeing more time at long-stick midfield and playing the wing on faceoffs, Mullins has started the last three games at close defense alongside Megill and redshirt junior David Hamlin. Mullins recorded a career-best four ground balls against the Big Red Tuesday.

True freshman Bobby Wardwell has started in goal the past two games and has 21 saves. He made 12 saves against Cornell, the most for an SU goaltender this season. Wardwell owns a .500 save percentage and a 10.50 goals-against average.

SCOUTING RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights have lost four of their last five, including a 13-4 defeat at Princeton in their most recent outing on Tuesday, April 10. Rutgers' only win during that stretch was an 8-7 overtime decision against Providence on March 31.

Midfielder Will Mangan leads four Scarlet Knights with at least 20 points. Mangan's 25 goals and 33 total points top the team's scoring list. Mangan also has 38 ground balls, good for second on the team. Attackmen Nick Depaolera (14g, 14a), Scott Klimchak (19g, 5a) and middie Michael Diehl (18g, 3a) round out Rutgers' 20-point scorers.

Joseph Nardella, a Cazenovia High School product, leads the Scarlet Knights in ground balls (45). Nardella is also Rutgers' top faceoff specialist, winning 100-of-181 (.552) draws.

First-year head coach Brian Brecht has had three goalies start at least one game this season. Rudy Butler (45 saves, .484 save percentage) and Steven Lusby (58 saves, .513 save percentage) have seen the lion's share of the playing time, starting five and six games, respectively. Lusby got the nod against Princeton, but was replaced by Joseph Donnelly (11 saves, .407 save percentage) in the fourth quarter.

THE SYRACUSE-RUTGERS SERIES
Syracuse and Rutgers have played at least once every season since 1979. The Orange owns a dominating 39-8 lead in the series thanks in large part to a 20-game winning streak from 1956 to 1995. The Orange has won the last seven games in the series and has defeated Rutgers by an aggregate score of 102-46 in those seven contests.

Saturday's game is just the third neutral-site affair between the two clubs. The first was a 1980 matchup won by the Orange, 8-7, in Garden City, N.Y. The other was last year's 12-2 ESPNU Warrior Classic victory in East Hartford, Conn.

UP NEXT ...
The Orange will head to Boswell Field in Geneva, N.Y. to take on the Hobart Statesman Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. The winner will receive the coveted Kraus-Simmons Trophy, which has been presented to the victor every year since 1986.

Syracuse University Athletics

Next Event

Related Videos