WHO: Albany Great Danes and Syracuse Orange
WHERE: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY
WHEN: Sunday, February 16, 4 pm
Syracuse Orange
After staying unbeaten in all four preseason scrimmages and thrashing down on Siena in the season opener 19-7, the Orange Men’s lacrosse program is already living up to their top-rank position.
In the opener against Siena, Attackman Dylan Donahue recorded a career high eight goals and one assist. Donahue tied the record originally set by Gary Gait on March 26, 1988. Equivocally, Kevin Rice had a personal record setting eight assists, six of which were to Donahue.
The Orange were superior in shots going 38-32 (only 50 percent of their approximately 80 shots), coupled with the 15-13 win ratio of faceoffs. Syracuse senior Chris Daddio was an anchor in winning 10 of the 17 faceoffs and snatching six ground balls.
Albany Great Danes
The No. 1 ranked team in the American East Conference, Albany had some work to do this offseason. They had to transition from creating a reputation to living up to their reputation/predictions.
Albany’s matchup with Syracuse will be their official season opener, a week later than most programs and to a team ranked higher and already accumulating more momentum.
As stated by InsideLacrosse:
‘This has potential for game of the year. Albany provided one of the lacrosse’s most thrilling upsets last year, winning in double overtime in the Dome. The Great Danes are highly-ranked, and have the nation’s marquee player in Lyle Thompson. Syracuse is No. 1 or No. 2 in the country, depending on whom you ask. This game won’t take anybody by surprise this year.”
Prediction:
Being an Orange fan myself, and taking into account my love for underdog upsets in general, this will be a thrilling match between the team riding in the spotlight and the opponent hoping to steal it.
Syracuse: 17 Albany: 14
