Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse

History

Syracuse played its first intercollegiate lacrosse game in 1916, and captured United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse League (USILL) co-championships in 1920, 1922, 1924, and 1925 based on winning the Northern Division Syracuse. Syracuse compiled an undefeated season with one of its strongest teams in 1957, led by Jim Brown, Roy Simmons, Jr. (their future head coach), and goalie and future indigenous people’s rights activist, Oren Lyons.

The men's lacrosse team competed as independents until 2010 when the former Big East Conference began sponsoring men's lacrosse. It joined the Atlantic Coast Conference from the 2014 season onwards following the athletics program's switch to the ACC.

NCAA national championships

In the modern NCAA era, Syracuse has won 10 national championship titles, in 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, and 2009, with one 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.

The Orange's ten NCAA championship titles are the most since the NCAA began holding tournaments in 1971 NCAA Division I.

Big East lacrosse

Syracuse was 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 were Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, and Villanova.

Head coaches

Syracuse has had five men's lacrosse head coaches since 1916:

• Laurie D. Cox (1916–1930), 116-40-15 record, .722 winning percentage
• Roy Simmons Sr. (1931–1970), 253-130-1 record, .660 winning percentage
• Roy Simmons Jr. (1971–1998), 287-96-0 record, .749 winning percentage
• John Desko (1999–2021), 258-86-0 record, .750 winning percentage
• Gary Gait (2021–present), 21-19-0 record, .525 winning percentage

As of games through 03/29/24, these coaches have combined for a 933-371-16 record, which is a .707 winning percentage, while winning 15 total national titles.

Individual honors and awards

USILA All-Americans

Twelve Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse players have been four-time United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-Americans:

• 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 (1997-2000)
• Michael Springer (2000–03)
• Mike Powell (2001–04)

Tewaaraton Trophy

Syracuse has also produced two Tewaaraton Trophy winners:

• Mike Powell (2002, 2004)
• Mike Leveille (2008)

US Lacrosse Hall of Fame

Twenty-three Orange men's lacrosse players and coaches are enshrined in the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame:

• Laurie D. Cox (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)
• John Desko (1979)
• William L. Fuller (1982)
• Jim Brown (1984)
• Ron Fraser (1987)
• Roy Simmons Jr. (1991)
• Oren R. Lyons Jr. (1992)
• Dick Finley (1999)
• Brad Kotz (2001)
• Gary Gait (2005)
• Thomas Ortese (2005)
• Pat McCabe (2006)
• Tom Marechek (2008)
• Tim Nelson (2011)
• Roy Colsey (2011)
• John Zulberti (2015)

Only Johns Hopkins (63) and Maryland (31) have more inductees in the Hall of Fame.

Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame

At least three former Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse players have been inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame:

• Tom Marechek (2012)
• Gary Gait (2014)
• Paul Gait (2014)

National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame

Several former Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse players have been inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame:

• Gary Gait (2006)
• Paul Gait (2006)
• Tom Marechek (2007)

Traditions

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.{{cite web| url=https://www.nunesmagician.com/syracuse-lacrosse/2017/6/2/15727660/syracuse-lacrosse-roundtable-11-and-22-hang-em-up-or-hand-em-out-cuse-su-lax-orange-cuse | work=Nunemagician.com| title=Syracuse Lacrosse Roundtable: #11 and #22, hang 'em up or hand 'em out?

Season Results

The following is a list of Syracuse’s Men's Lacrosse results by season:

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• • No games played due to World War II.

† - NCAA canceled 2020 collegiate activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

References

1. Prior to 1971, the [[United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association]] (USILA) selected the national champion. From 1936 through 1970, the USILA awarded the [[Wingate Memorial Trophy]] to its selected annual champions, based on regular-season records. In 1957, both the Wingate Trophy and the Cyrus Miller Trophy (Division I championship) went to Johns Hopkins. Since [[1971 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. 1971]], the annual [[NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship]] tournament has determined the national champion. The Wingate Memorial Trophy was also presented to the first two NCAA champions (1971 and 1972) and was then retired.
2. (1995-06-11). "Syracuse Loses Lacrosse Title". The New York Times.
3. (2008). "Division I Men's Lacrosse History". [[NCAA]].
4. (2011). "NCAA Lacrosse: Men's Coaching Records". National Collegiate Athletic Association.
5. "NCAA Career Statistics Database". NCAA.
6. (February 7, 2020). "No. 22 Chase Scanlan Lives Up to Hype in Debut, Leading Syracuse Past Colgate, 21-14".