New sights are in line for the Rollins men's lacrosse team as they look to build on a season that matched a program-best in wins. The 2013 season will feature a young roster with new talent and the second most home games in program history.
The team and coaching staff will also dedicate the 2013 season to Ralph Rossi, Sr., father of Tars head coach R.J. Rossi.
Entering his third season at the helm of the Tars men's lacrosse program, R.J. Rossi looks to make the best out of the final season in the Deep South Conference. The Tars will make their way as a member of the Sunshine State Conference in 2014. The team is coming off an impressive season that featured four overtime contests and a game that held the No. 2 team in the nation to its fewest amount of goals in three years.
Rollins will begin the season with back-to-back road games, first off with an inter-division game against Mercer on Feb. 9. The Tars will then head to Melbourne for the first DSC contest of the season against Florida Tech on Feb. 16.
The start of an eight-game home stand begins Feb. 24 as the Tars open up at Barker Family Stadium against the Lions of Lindenwood University. Three days later, Rollins takes on in-state rival Saint Leo in a mid-week match-up.
Spring Break brings a busy slate of home games starting with conference opponent Wingate on March 3. Rollins will then host four straight non-conference games against Wheeling Jesuit on March 5, Belmont Abbey on March 9, Molloy on March 14 and finally Adams State on March 16. Former standout for the Tars, Andrew Vossler, will also make his way back to Winter Park with Adams State as he is currently an assistant coach for the Grizzlies.
The Tars will return to conference action as they play in their final home contest of the season against Florida Southern under the lights on March 20. Rollins will then hit the road for three road games before the start of the Deep South Conference Tournament on April 9-11. The Tars will also host the championship game of the DSC Tournament on April 14.
Rollins will close out the season in Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Carolina as they head to Greensburg, Pa. for an April 19 contest against No. 7 Seton Hill, followed by an April 21 game against Lake Erie. The final two contests of the season will be in North Carolina as the Tars face Pfeiffer on April 26 and Mars Hill on April 28.
With the dedication of the 2013 season to Head Coach Rossi's father, the Tars will wear the initials RLR on their helmets. Rossi, Sr. was a long time supporter of the Tars program. He passed away this past summer after a long battle with cancer.