Syracuse Lacrosse: Men's, Women's Squads Qualify For Big East Tournament

The Syracuse Orange men's and women's teams seem to be moving in different directions, however they'll both get the same opportunity to win the Big East Tournament this season.

The men's team (No. 17 in Media Poll, No. 17 in Coaches Poll), perhaps apropos, backed in to the BET despite their loss to Georgetown this weekend. Thanks to a three-way potential tiebreaker of goal differentials, the Orange win-out over the St. John's Red Storm and Georgetown Hoyas. They will play the Villanova Wildcats in the first round of the BET and, as stated yesterday, that's not the exciting proposition it's been in the past. The Wildcats handed the Orange their first Big East loss ever earlier this season. Oh and did I mention the BET is being played at Villanova this year?

In a bit of insult added to non-injury, the Hoyas were eliminated from Big East Tournament contention after beating Syracuse. They only have themselves to blame by allowing the Orange to score 8 goals and allowing St. John's to rally late in their head-to-head match-ups. Had their defense been a bit more stout, it'd be them and not the Johnnies with the fourth seed.

SU takes on Notre Dame this Saturday in what looked like the Big East Game of the Year before the season started but will in fact be a complete non-issue. Since SU almost certainly can't make the NCAA Tournament unless they win the BET, there is technically nothing to play for, begging the question...should Syracuse rest the starters and take it easy? Chances are SU will have to beat Notre Dame if they get past Villanova, so do they really want to show their hand now?

FYI, if you're thinking about going to the Men's BET, maybe you want to jump on that Groupon ($24 for four tickets!).

In the meantime, the women's squad also has a bid in the Big East Tournament locked up. Now it's just a question of which seed.

The women rattled off two big wins to set some schools records this weekend. SU won its 12th consecutive game to equal the program’s longest winning streak with a 22-5 victory at Cincinnati on Sunday, which followed a 16-9 victory over Louisville on Friday.

At 13-2 (6-0), the Orange are No. 2 in the nation and in the driver's seat for the No. 1 seed in the BET. Standing in their way are Loyola and Villanova, whom they'll play on Friday and Sunday, respectively. The Greyhounds are a Big East school in Women's Lax and have also qualified for the BET along with SU and Notre Dame. Syracuse will host the Big East Tournament this year.

Their game against Loyola will take place at the SU Soccer Stadium, so good time to catch the ladies under the lights.