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From press release

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 1-ranked Orange (1-0) welcomes No. 10 Albany (0-0) to the Carrier Dome for their annual meeting Sunday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. The game is the second half of a Syracuse men’s and women’s lacrosse doubleheader. In the opening game, Gary Gait’s second-ranked women’s squad hosts Canisius at 1 p.m.

Tickets are available online at Cuse.com, over the phone (1-888-DOMETIX), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 12 and under. ‘Cuse Kids Club members get in free with their membership card and students are admitted free with valid ID. Parking is $15.

The Orange men started the 2014 campaign with a 19-7 drubbing of Siena Feb. 10 in the earliest season opener in school history. Sunday afternoon’s tilt is the first game for the Great Danes.

DYNAMIC DUO

Attackmen Kevin Rice (Skaneateles, N.Y.) and Dylan Donahue (Camillus, N.Y.) were unstoppable in SU’s win versus Siena. The pair combined for 17 points with Donahue notching eight goals and one assist and Rice collecting eight helpers  Donahue’s goal total was one off the school record of nine shared by Greg Tarbell, Gary Gait and Casey Powell. Rice’s number of assists was also one short of the SU single-game record held by Hall of Famer Tim Nelson.

DONAHUE-RICE COMBO: NEXT LEVEL

In addition to their impressive raw numbers, here’s a more in-depth look at Donahue, Rice and their connection:

• Donahue’s eight goals versus Siena came on eight shots.

• Donahue scored all four SU goals in the third quarter, three on passes from Rice.

• Rice assisted on 75 percent of Donahue’s goals in the game (6-8).

• Overall, Rice has assisted on 34.3 percent of Donahue’s 35 career goals (12-35).

• Donahue is currently riding an eight-game point streak, the longest on the team. He has 30 points (21 goals, nine assists) during the streak and he’s averaging 3.75 points per contest over that span.

• Rice has eight games of at least three assists in the last two years.

IN THE CLEAR

Syracuse registered a school record 91.81 clearing percentage in 2013, giving the Orange five straight years of clearing at better than 85 percent.

A direct correlation to SU’s impressive clearing stat last season was its low number of turnovers (235). The Orange finished second to Hofstra nationally in fewest turnovers per game (11.75).

Syracuse cleared at an .875 clip (21-24) in the opener against Siena.

A WIN AGAINST ALBANY WOULD …

… Be the Syracuse’s program’s 848th victory, second all-time behind Johns Hopkins.

… Improve SU’s record to 87-20 since the start of the 2008 season.

… Be John Desko’s 189th career coaching win.

… Improve the Orange’s record to 11-1 all-time against the Great Danes.

… Make the Orange 16-6 all-time versus America East foes, including a 14-1 mark under Desko.

… Improve SU’s record to 111-21 when ranked No. 1 in the USILA Coaches Top 20 Poll.

… Make Syracuse 8-1 in its last nine games against top-10 opponents.

SCOUTING ALBANY

Albany is led by the dynamic trio of Miles, Lyle and Ty Thompson. Miles and Lyle are brothers and Ty is their cousin. The group combined for 56 percent of Albany’s points last year (254-453). Lyle Thompson tallied 113 points in 2013 (50 goals, 63 assists), one shy of the NCAA single-season record. Miles added 73 (43 goals, 30 assists) and Ty had 68 (54 goals, 14 assists). Together they paced the nation’s highest scoring offense (15.9 gpg).

In his second year as the starter, goalie Blaze Riorden anchors the Albany defense. Riorden stopped 199 shots last year, but the Danes surrendered an average of 12.5 goals per contest.

Head coach Scott Marr is entering his 14th season. Under his direction, Albany has won five America East titles, including the 2013 crown. The Danes lost a shootout in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament to Denver, 19-14.

THE ALBANY SERIES

The Orange is 10-1 all-time against the Great Danes since the two schools began playing annually in 2004. All 11 pairings have taken place at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won the first 10 meetings before Albany notched its first series win, beating the Orange, 16-15, in two overtimes last season. In NCAA Tournament play, the Orange holds a 1-0 advantage, topping the Great Danes in the 2004 postseason by the score of 21-13.

UP NEXT …

Syracuse opens ACC play at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 against Maryland inside the Carrier Dome. The game marks the first regular-season meeting between the two schools since 1983.