From press release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team (2-2) looks to remain unbeaten in non-conference play when it meets old BIG EAST foe St. John’s (2-2) in the Cobb County Lacrosse Classic on Saturday, March 8 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. Faceoff is at 4 p.m.
The game is the centerpiece of the event organized by LB3 Lacrosse and its founder Liam Banks, who played four seasons at Syracuse (1999-2001, 2003). Prior to the SU-St. John’s game, the Kennesaw State women’s team hosts Davidson. The event also includes a youth tournament and clinics throughout the weekend.
DOWN GEORGIA WAY
Syracuse is 2-0 all-time in games played in the Peach State, but Saturday’s contest marks the Orange’s first trip to Georgia in more than 80 years. In SU’s only other visit in 1927, the Orange topped Georgia and Georgia Tech on consecutive days, 11-2.
DESKO’S 250TH
Saturday’s contest marks the 250th game of John Desko’s head coaching career. Desko is in his 16th season after taking over the Orange in 1999. Since the program was established in 1916, there have been just four head coaches — Laurie Cox, Roy Simmons Sr., Roy Simmons Jr. and Desko. Simmons Sr. and Jr. each coached more than 380 games in their careers.
A WIN AGAINST ST. JOHN’S WOULD …
… Be the program’s 849th victory, second all-time behind Johns Hopkins (937).
… Improve SU’s record to 88-22 since the start of the 2008 season.
… Be John Desko’s 190th career coaching win.
… Make Syracuse 8-0 all-time against St. John’s, including a 3-0 record in neutral-site games.
… Improve the Orange’s record to 3-0 in games played in Georgia.
… Boost the team’s non-conference record to 3-0.
… End SU’s two-game losing streak.
HOT SHOTS
Syracuse leads the ACC and ranks second nationally with a .384 shooting percentage (44-114). Three players are currently ranked in the top 20 nationally in individual shooting percentage. Dylan Donahue (Camillus, N.Y.) is first. Henry Schoonmaker (Portland, Ore.) is fifth and Hakeem Lecky (Nantucket, Mass.) is 19th. It’s a statistical category that has improved dramatically the last two years with assistant coach Kevin Donahue taking over the offense:
2012 – 28.5% (33rd in NCAA)
2013 – 31.0% (10th in NCAA)
2014 – 38.4% (2nd in NCAA)
DANGEROUS FROM UP TOP
The Syracuse first midfield, comprised of Lecky, Scott Loy (Toledo, Ohio) and Schoonmaker, is providing offensive punch:
• The group has combined for 19 goals (Schoonmaker 8, Lecky 6, Loy 5) this year.
• Schoonmaker (5th – .615) and Lecky (19th – .500) rank in the top 20 nationally in individual shooting percentage.
• As a group, the Orange first midfield is shooting 50 percent (19-38).
• Lecky scored a career-high four goals and Loy had a personal-best five points (two goals, three assists) at Virginia on March 1.
• Schoonmaker is averaging 2.3 goals per contest over the last three games.
ABOUT ST. JOHN’S
The Red Storm is 202. Both of their wins have come at home. In its most recent outing on March 4, St. John’s lost a 16-11 decision at Drexel.
Last season’s BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year Kieran McArdle keys a veteran attack unit. McArdle leads the team in assists (10) and points (18). He’s flanked by seniors Colin Keegan (eight goals, four assists) and Kevin Cernuto (eight goals, six assists). Midfielder Ryan Fitzgerald leads St. John’s with nine goals.
Eric DeJohn, a transfer from Syracuse, is a starting midfielder for St. John’s.
Goaltender Joseph Danaher was tabbed the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week March 3 after his 14-save performance in the team’s 14-9 victory over Siena. Danaher has 34 saves on the year and holds a .446 save percentage.
Head coach Jason Miller is in his eighth year at St. John’s. The Drexel game marked the 100th game of his career. Miller has an overall record of 40-60.
THE ST. JOHN’S SERIES
The Orange is 7-0 all-time against the Red Storm and has outscored St. John’s in the series, 119-50. The squads have played every year since 2010 and met for the BIG EAST championship in 2012 (SU won 12-4). The Orange won last season’s pairing, 13-11, in the Independence Classic at PPL Park.
UP NEXT…
Syracuse continues its non-conference slate when it travels to Baltimore to face archrival Johns Hopkins on Saturday, March 15 at 12 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
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