GameThread: #1 Syracuse Orange (9-1) vs. #17 North Carolina Tar Heels (6-5)

The North Carolina Tar Heels host the Syracuse Orange in Chapel Hill, NC, today at 4 PM. Today’s game can be seen on ESPNU and heard on TK99/105.

The Orange come into today’s game ranked first in the nation with a 9-1 record and a 3-0 ACC record. A win over Carolina would give SU its first ever undefeated season in ACC play. Syracuse lacrosse moved from independent to the Big East Conference for the 2010 season and went undefeated in conference play for the first two years but has not done so since switching to the ACC in 2014.

Ben Williams will have a big test today at the faceoff X, going against Stephen Kelly who plays a very physical style on the draws. Check out my full UNC preview here.

OTHER GAMES OF NOTE

Hobart Statesmen - Bryant Bulldogs; Hobart could help SU’s RPI with a win, not that the Orange need much help in that department as Syracuse is first in RPI

St. John’s Red Storm - #4 Denver Pioneers; an upset over the Pios or even a close game would make SU’s one goal win over St. John’s look better

Cornell Big Red - Lehigh Mountain Hawks; any wins by Cornell will help SU’s RPI

#8 Duke Blue Devils - #18 Virginia Cavaliers; a Virginia win would give Lars Tiffany his first ACC win and the Cavaliers its first ACC win since beating Syracuse on 3/1/2014

#13 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays - #7 Penn State Nittany Lions; a Hopkins win would help SU’s RPI and give PSU a second loss on the season

#2 Hofstra Pride - Drexel Dragons; a Drexel upset of undefeated Hofstra would create a little more seperation in the polls

#6 Army Black Knights - Navy Midshipmen; I’m all... Go Navy Beat Army! But for Syracuse, an Army win makes the loss to the Black Knights look better but would also put Army in a position to potentially supplant SU in the polls

#9 Ohio State Buckeyes 18 - Michigan Wolverines 7

#3 Maryland Terrapins 12 - #5 Albany Great Danes 11 (Wednesday)

NEWS & NOTES

Article from Jon Mettus on Syracuse’s “d-offense”

Syracuse.com was first to report that the NCAA will now restrict coaches from contacting players until September 1 of their junior year of high school

Charlie DiSturco of the Daily Orange on how the number one ranked teams in the nation this year have been in the crosshairs

The Daily Orange previews UNC

The Daily Orange on Luke Goldstock’s growth as a player and his desire to play for Syracuse, an offer which never came

The Daily Orange on the adjustment of Brendan Bomberry and Nick Mariano’s switching positions

An article from the Daily Heel on Austin Pifani’s role as the leader of the defense

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Leave your comments below, enjoy the game, and as always...G’Orange!