WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Yesterday Marquette announced the schedule for the inaugural season of Division 1 men's lacrosse! I'm still figuring out the rules of lacrosse, but I know an attempt to challenge a young team when I see it.
The program gets started off with a strong challenge as they travel to Columbus to take on Ohio State in Marquette's very first Division 1 lacrosse game on February 23, 2013. The Buckeyes finished last season ranked #18 in the country.
While the Golden Eagles will be an independent for the 2013 season, they will get a taste of what playing in the Big East will be like with matches at Georgetown and at St. John's, along with a neutral site game in Chicago against Notre Dame. Given yesterday's news about the Irish, it's still likely that they will be Big East members when Marquette begins conference play in 2014. They will provide a stern test for Coach Amplo's young squad, as the Irish were NCAA semifinalists last season before losing to eventual national champion Loyola (MD).
Speaking of 2012 NCAA tournament participants on the schedule, Marquette will follow up the game against Notre Dame with a game against Denver. That match will take place on April 5th.
Marquette will host their first ever home lacrosse game on Saturday, April 20th. Detroit will provide the opposition. Here's Coach Amplo on the Titans:
Certainly playing Detroit, another Midwest school, is a highlight on our schedule. I think their goals are similar to ours, in that they are also trying to build their program the right way and grow the game of lacrosse in the Midwest. Each team plays very similar style of lacrosse and should make for an interesting game.
In the final regular season game of the year, the athletic department managed what I consider to be a big get. Given that Marquette is in their first season and is only going to be playing two home games all season, I think it's a very big deal that 2012 NCAA tournament participant and 2010 NCAA champion Duke will be coming to the Valley to play Marquette. The game will be on Sunday, May 5th, so mark your calendars now. For you students out there, that's the day before spring semester finals start, so arrange your studying schedule accordingly.
You'll be able to get your first look at the men's lacrosse team when they host Concordia for an exhibition match on Saturday, October 13th at 10 am.
Hit the jump for the full schedule!
2012 Fall Exhibition:
Saturday, October 6: at Nick Colleluori Fall Men's Lacrosse Classic
Saturday, October 13: Concordia, 10 am at Valley Fields
2013 Exhibition:
Saturday, February 2: at Michigan
Saturday, February 9: at either Hofstra or Penn
2013 Regular Season:
Saturday, February 23: at Ohio State
Saturday, March 2: at Air Force
Saturday, March 9: at Jacksonville
Tuesday, March 12: at Mercer
Saturday, March 16: at Saint Joseph's
Friday, March 29: at Georgetown
Tuesday, April 2: vs Notre Dame in Chicago
Friday, April 5: at Denver
Saturday, April 13: at High Point
Saturday, April 20: Detroit (first ever home game)
Tuesday, April 23: at Bellarmine
Saturday, April 27: at St. John's
Sunday, May 5: Duke