'Cuse Closes Out Regular Season Saturday

(1) SYRACUSE (11-2) vs. (12) Colgate (10-4)
Game Details: Saturday, May 2 | 3:30 p.m.
Location: Andy Kerr Stadium | Hamilton, N.Y.
Game Links: Listen | Live Stats
Television: CBS Sports Network
Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM (Syracuse)
Twitter: @CuseMLAX | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Colgate Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

HAMILTON, N.Y. – In a matchup of conference champions, No. 1 Syracuse (11-2) caps the 2015 regular season Saturday, May 2 with a 3:30 p.m. game against No. 12 Colgate (10-4) at Andy Kerr Stadium.

Both teams have already secured NCAA Tournament bids. The Orange did so by claiming the Atlantic Coast Conference automatic qualifier by virtue of its 15-14 decision against Duke April 26 in the ACC title game. Colgate won the Patriot League the same day, beating Army, 11-8, for the conference crown.

ORANGE WINS FIRST ACC TITLE
Syracuse was crowned the 2015 ACC champion with its 15-14 win against Duke in the conference title game on April 26 at PPL Park. Overall, the Orange dispatched North Carolina in the semifinals and the Blue Devils in two one-goal games to earn the league's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

It was SU's fifth conference championship in the last six seasons. The Orange won four straight BIG EAST titles from 2010-13.

Kevin Rice was named the championship's most valuable player. Rice recorded 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in the two games, including three goals and four assists against Duke in the final. Nicky Galasso, Randy Staats, Bobby Wardwell and Brandon Mullins joined him on the all-tournament team.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Of the 69 Division I lacrosse teams, only ACC members Syracuse and Virginia have not lost to a non-conference opponent in 2015. Syracuse is 7-0 against non-league foes while Virginia is 10-0.

Since joining the ACC, the Orange is 15-1 versus non-conference foes with its only loss coming against Bryant (10-9) in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Championship.

POLL POINTS
The Orange is No. 1 in both national polls this week, including the most recent USILA poll, released on April 27. Syracuse has appeared in 39 consecutive USILA polls. The last time the Orange was not ranked was April 30, 2012.

Overall, Syracuse has been ranked in 179 of the 182 USILA polls that have been released since 2000 and 397 of the 426 polls since the USILA began its national rankings in 1973.

The Orange appeared in 272 straight polls from April 10, 1978 to April 30, 2007.

WHEN NO. 1
SU has been No. 1 in 95 polls since the USILA started its rankings in 1973. The Orange is 114-23 (.832) in games when holding the nation's top ranking, including a 47-11 (.810) record under head coach John Desko.

ANOTHER DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN SEASON
With 11 victories in 2015, Syracuse has reached double-digit wins for the 46th time in 96 varsity lacrosse seasons. The Orange has won at least 10 games in 14 of John Desko's 17 years as head coach.

SCOUTING COLGATE

Colgate has some of the best special teams in college lacrosse. The Raiders rank fourth nationally in extra-man offense (.558) and are eighth in man-down defense (.725). Both totals lead the Patriot League.

The Raiders don't take many shots, only 29.7 per game, but when they do they usually make them. Colgate is third nationally in shooting percentage (.361). The Raiders have 150 goals on 416 attempts.

All-Patriot League First Team selection Ryan Walsh leads the club in goals (28) and points (45). He's flanked by Matt Clarkson (18 goals, 25 assists) and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Anthony Abbadessa (22 goals, 15 assists) on attack.

Colgate is allowing 8.7 goals per game. Goalie Brandon Burke holds a .533 save percentage with 112 saves, while defenseman Matt Yeager leads the team with 15 caused turnovers.

Head coach Mike Murphy is in his fourth season with the Raiders. Murphy spent seven years at Army prior to being appointed to the top post at Colgate in 2012. Murphy is 41-22 overall and guided the Raiders to the NCAA quarterfinals in his first season at the helm.

THE COLGATE SERIES

Syracuse owns a 44-11-1 lead in the all-time series against the Raiders, including a 15-6 advantage in games played in Hamilton. The two sides have split the last four pairings, including a 12-11 decision in favor of the Raiders the last time Syracuse visited Andy Kerr Stadium in 2008.

The Orange won 17 of the 18 contests between the two teams from 1967 to 2006. In the 1977 pairing, Syracuse set school records for goals scored (30) and margin of victory (28) in a 30-2 home win.

The Orange dominated last year's meeting, beating Colgate 19-6. The starting attack unit of Kevin Rice, Dylan Donahue and Randy Staats combined for nine goals and 16 points in the victory.