Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse
Encyclopedia
The Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team represents Syracuse University
in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse
. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference
men's lacrosse conference. Syracuse plays its home games at the Carrier Dome
in Syracuse, New York
.
game in 1916, and captured its first United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
(USILA) championship in 1920. It would go on to win USILA championships in 1922, 1924, and 1925.
In the modern NCAA era, Syracuse has won ten national championship titles, in 1983
, 1988
, 1989
, 1993
, 1995
, 2000
, 2002
, 2004
, 2008
, and 2009
, with one additional championship in 1990
vacated due to NCAA rules infractions after an investigation revealed that Nancy Simmons, the wife of Coach Roy Simmons Jr., had co-signed a car loan for the team's star player, Paul Gait
, in the 1990 season. However, Syracuse continues to include this championship in internal totals.
The Orange's ten national championship titles are the most of any team in NCAA Division I history.
Since 1916 until present, Syracuse has had four head coaches: Laurie D. Cox
(1916–1930), 116-40-14 record, .724 winning percentage; Roy Simmons, Sr. (1931–1970), 253-130-1 record, .660 winning percentage; Roy Simmons, Jr. (1971–1998), 290-96-0 record, .751 winning percentage; and John Desko
(1999–present), 102-38-0 record, .729 winning percentage. As of 2010, those coaches combined for a 806-309-15 record, which is a .723 winning percentage, with 14 total national titles.
Syracuse is one of seven Big East Conference
schools that formally began competing in men's lacrosse in 2010. Previously, Syracuse men's lacrosse had remained independent (i.e., unaffiliated with any athletic conference). The other six Big East schools are Georgetown
, Notre Dame
, Providence
, Rutgers
, St. John's
, and Villanova
.
In the school's history, 12 players have been four-time All-American
s: Brad Kotz
(1982-85), John Zulberti
(1986-89), Gary Gait
(1987-90), Pat McCabe (1988-91), Tom Marechek
(1989-92), Charlie Lockwood (1991-94), Roy Colsey
(1992-95), Ric Beardsley (1992-95), Casey Powell
(1995-98), Ryan Powell
(1997-00), Michael Springer
(2000-03), and Mike Powell (2001-04).
Syracuse has also produced two Tewaaraton Trophy
winners: Mike Powell (2002, 2004) and Mike Leveille
(2008).
Twenty Orange players are enshrined in the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame
: Laurie D. Cox (year inducted - 1957), Irving Lydecker (1960), Frederick A. Fitch (1961), Victor Ross
(1962; a three-time All American), David Periard Sr. (1964), Evan Corbin Sr. (1965), Victor J. Jenkins (1967), William N. Ritch (1972), Louis Robbins (1975), Stewart Lindsay Jr. (1977), William L. Fuller (1982), Jim Brown
(1984), Ron Fraser (1987), Roy Simmons Jr. (1991), Oren R. Lyons (1992), Dick Finley (1999), Brad Kotz (2001), Gary Gait
(2005), Thomas Ortese (2005), and Pat McCabe (2006). Only Johns Hopkins (63) and Maryland (31) have more inductees in the Hall of Fame.
One notable tradition of the Syracuse program is the number 22 jersey, which is given to the player who is expected to be the team's best overall player. The number has been worn by Gary Gait, Charlie Lockwood, Casey Powell, Ryan Powell, Mike Powell, Dan Hardy, Cody Jamieson, and most recently Jojo Morasco.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse
College lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
. The Orange have won 10 NCAA championship titles, and currently competes as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
men's lacrosse conference. Syracuse plays its home games at the Carrier Dome
Carrier Dome
The Carrier Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports stadium located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York, USA. It is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. High school football championships are also held in "The...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
.
History
Syracuse played its first intercollegiate lacrosseCollege lacrosse
College lacrosse refers to lacrosse played by student athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played in both the varsity and club levels...
game in 1916, and captured its first United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
(USILA) championship in 1920. It would go on to win USILA championships in 1922, 1924, and 1925.
In the modern NCAA era, Syracuse has won ten national championship titles, in 1983
1983 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1983 Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship game was played at Rutgers University in front of 15,672 fans. Syracuse capped off a 14 and 1 season with its first "official" NCAA championship as they defeated Johns Hopkins 17 to 16...
, 1988
1988 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1988 tournament championship game was played at Syracuse University in front of 20,148 fans. The Syracuse Orangemen defeated the Cornell Big Red, 13-8 for the first of their three straight NCAA titles....
, 1989
1989 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1989 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 19th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 1993
1993 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1993 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 23rd annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 1995
1995 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1995 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 25th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 2000
2000 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 30th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Twelve NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 2002
2002 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
In the 2002 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse National Championship game, Syracuse defeated Princeton by a score of 13-12. The game was a rematch of the 2001 championship game, which was won by Princeton. This time, Syracuse was victorious, led by Michael Powell's four goals and three assists.-...
, 2004
2004 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2004 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 34th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The championship game...
, 2008
2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 10 through May 26, 2008. This was the 38th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
, and 2009
2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was held from May 9 through May 25, 2009. This was the 39th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament...
, with one additional championship in 1990
1990 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 1990 tournament championship game was played at Rutgers University in front of 19,070 fans. The Syracuse Orangemen defeated the Loyola Greyhounds, 21–9. Syracuse's participation in the tournament was later vacated by the NCAA Committee on infractions. Syracuse was found to have violated rules...
vacated due to NCAA rules infractions after an investigation revealed that Nancy Simmons, the wife of Coach Roy Simmons Jr., had co-signed a car loan for the team's star player, Paul Gait
Paul Gait
Paul Gait is widely regarded as one of the best lacrosse players of all time and is the current Vice President of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League...
, in the 1990 season. However, Syracuse continues to include this championship in internal totals.
The Orange's ten national championship titles are the most of any team in NCAA Division I history.
Laurie D. Cox
Laurie Davidson Cox was a leading American landscape architect and hall of fame coach and contributor to the sport of lacrosse...
(1916–1930), 116-40-14 record, .724 winning percentage; Roy Simmons, Sr. (1931–1970), 253-130-1 record, .660 winning percentage; Roy Simmons, Jr. (1971–1998), 290-96-0 record, .751 winning percentage; and John Desko
John Desko
John Desko is the head coach of the men's lacrosse team at Syracuse University taking over the reins in 1999 from Hall of Fame coach Roy Simmons, Jr....
(1999–present), 102-38-0 record, .729 winning percentage. As of 2010, those coaches combined for a 806-309-15 record, which is a .723 winning percentage, with 14 total national titles.
Syracuse is one of seven Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
schools that formally began competing in men's lacrosse in 2010. Previously, Syracuse men's lacrosse had remained independent (i.e., unaffiliated with any athletic conference). The other six Big East schools are Georgetown
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown's nickname is The Hoyas, but its mascot is "Jack the Bulldog." Various breeds of dogs have been used by the sports teams as mascots since the early 1900s. Several notable bull terriers like Sergeant Stubby and "Hoya" were used at football games in the 1920s, as was a Great Dane in the...
, Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's lacrosse team represents the University of Notre Dame in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's college lacrosse...
, Providence
Providence Friars
The Providence Friars is the name of the athletic teams of Providence College. They compete in the Big East Conference for every sport except for ice hockey, where they compete in Hockey East and in women's volleyball, where they compete in the America East Conference...
, Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey...
, St. John's
St. John's Red Storm
The St. John's Red Storm is the nickname used for the 16 varsity athletic programs of St. John's University. St. John's 16 NCAA Division I teams compete in the Big East Conference, with the exception of the fencing and lacrosse teams, which compete in the ECAC...
, and Villanova
Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse
The Villanova Wildcats men's lacrosse team represents Villanova University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. The Wildcats were elevated to the varsity level in 1981 after competing as a club sport since 1961...
.
In the school's history, 12 players have been four-time All-American
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
s: Brad Kotz
Brad Kotz
Bradley 'Brad' A. Kotz was a four-time All-American NCAA lacrosse player at Syracuse University from 1982 to 1985. The Orange won an NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1983 and made two additional appearances in the NCAA finals in 1984 and 1985, with Kotz as their leading player...
(1982-85), John Zulberti
John Zulberti
John Zulberti was a four-time All-American NCAA lacrosse player at Syracuse University from 1986 to 1989. The Orange won NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships in 1988 and 1989 with Zulberti teaming up perennial all-timers Gary Gait, Paul Gait and Tom Marechek....
(1986-89), Gary Gait
Gary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
(1987-90), Pat McCabe (1988-91), Tom Marechek
Tom Marechek
Tom "Hollywood" Marechek is a retired professional lacrosse player. He currently coaches the Friends School of Baltimore's boys' varsity lacrosse team in Baltimore, Maryland...
(1989-92), Charlie Lockwood (1991-94), Roy Colsey
Roy Colsey
Roy Colsey is a former professional lacrosse player who played for the Philadelphia Barrage in Major League Lacrosse.-College career:...
(1992-95), Ric Beardsley (1992-95), Casey Powell
Casey Powell
Casey Powell is a lacrosse player in the United States. He was the captain of the US national team in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship. He currently plays indoor lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League for the Rochester Knighthawks. He also plays Major League Lacrosse for the Hamilton...
(1995-98), Ryan Powell
Ryan Powell (lacrosse)
Ryan Powell , is an American lacrosse player from West Carthage, New York. He was a four-time All-American at Syracuse University. He currently plays for the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League and the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse. His brothers Casey and Mike also have enjoyed...
(1997-00), Michael Springer
Michael Springer
Michael Springer is a lacrosse player for the Philadelphia Barrage of Major League Lacrosse. Springer was a four-time All American at Syracuse University. He now coaches varsity lacrosse at Don Bosco Prep.-Major League Lacrosse:...
(2000-03), and Mike Powell (2001-04).
Syracuse has also produced two Tewaaraton Trophy
Tewaaraton Trophy
The Tewaaraton Trophy is an award given annually, since 2001, to the most outstanding American college lacrosse player. It is the lacrosse equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy. The trophy is presented by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance and the University Club of Washington, D.C...
winners: Mike Powell (2002, 2004) and Mike Leveille
Mike Leveille
Mike Leveille is a professional lacrosse player with the Chicago Machine of the Major League Lacrosse. He was an All-American at Syracuse University, and was awarded the Tewaaraton Trophy in 2008.-Professional career:...
(2008).
Twenty Orange players are enshrined in the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame
The US Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame, located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, is operated by US Lacrosse...
: Laurie D. Cox (year inducted - 1957), Irving Lydecker (1960), Frederick A. Fitch (1961), Victor Ross
Victor Ross
-Early life:Ross was Jewish, and was born in Kiszalo, Hungary.He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1918. He then attended Syracuse University, where he played on both the soccer and lacrosse teams. He subsequently attended Syracuse Law School, where he earned an LLB degree in 1924...
(1962; a three-time All American), David Periard Sr. (1964), Evan Corbin Sr. (1965), Victor J. Jenkins (1967), William N. Ritch (1972), Louis Robbins (1975), Stewart Lindsay Jr. (1977), William L. Fuller (1982), Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
(1984), Ron Fraser (1987), Roy Simmons Jr. (1991), Oren R. Lyons (1992), Dick Finley (1999), Brad Kotz (2001), Gary Gait
Gary Gait
Gary Charles Gait is widely regarded as the best lacrosse player of all time, just above his twin brother Paul. He has starred at the NCAA level at Syracuse University, at the professional level in the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, and at the international level for the...
(2005), Thomas Ortese (2005), and Pat McCabe (2006). Only Johns Hopkins (63) and Maryland (31) have more inductees in the Hall of Fame.
One notable tradition of the Syracuse program is the number 22 jersey, which is given to the player who is expected to be the team's best overall player. The number has been worn by Gary Gait, Charlie Lockwood, Casey Powell, Ryan Powell, Mike Powell, Dan Hardy, Cody Jamieson, and most recently Jojo Morasco.