New London, Conn – The United States Coast Guard Academy Men’s Lacrosse team has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2012 season. The schedule includes eight regular season games and a spring break trip to Florida to face several out of conference teams including Elon, Emory, Palm Beach Atlantic and Grand Valley State – all perennial fixtures at the top of their conferences and in the MCLA D-II Top 25.
The Bears will open up the 2012 season on Saturday, February 25th down the road against the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University in a 1:00 PM game. Next they travel to Southeast Florida for the Sailfish Shootout hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Sailfish have invited a number of Top 25 programs to participate in their annual event. The Bears weekend will begin on Friday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM vs. the host Sailfish.
In addition to the games on tap, Saturday, March 3rd will begin with a Diversity Open House that will include a clinic for the West Palm Beach U.S. Lacrosse BRIDGE (Building Relationships to Initiate Diversity Growth and Enrichment) affiliate, a Coast Guard recruiting and information booth and, weather permitting, a fly-in and static display by a Coast Guard helicopter and other Coast Guard assets. This will be followed by a contest between Coast Guard and Elon University at 4:00pm. March 4th matches Emory University with the Coast Guard Academy at 1:00pm. On Tuesday (Monday is a rest day), March 6th, Coast Guard will face-off against Grand Valley State at 4:00pm.
Nine days later - on March 16th, the Bears return to New England and the friendly confines of Cadet Memorial Field for their home opener against Bridgewater State at 7:00 PM. Pre-game activities will also include the traditional goal-flag ceremony commemorating Coast Guard Academy graduates and lacrosse players lost on operational missions. Two tribute flags will be attached to the goals and displayed at every home game throughout the season.
Next up for the Bears is a two-game road stretch against the preseason PCLL favorite Bulldogs of Briarcliffe College and the University of New Haven Chargers on March 22 and 28 respectively. Briarcliffe finished ranked No. 7 in the MCLA D-II national standings after winning the conference last season and making a good showing at the National Tournament in Denver.
From there, the Bears will enjoy a short home stand beginning March 30 at 7:00 PM with a rare mid-season out of conference matchup against the Carnegie Mellon Tartans of the CCLA D-II East. One week later on April 5th, the Bears will host the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University in a 7:00 PM contest under the lights. On April 15th, the Bears will travel to Easton, MA to face the Stonehill College Skyhawks in a game has become a heated PCLL rivalry. In 2009, Stonehill handed the Bears a tough 12-11 loss in a four-overtime thriller at Cadet Memorial Field. In 2010, the Bears avenged that loss – coming behind from four goals down for their own 12-11 victory.
In their final two regular season conference games, the Bears will face off against the Engineers of Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Cadet Memorial Field on the 20th of April at 7:00 PM before hosting the University of Maine – Orono Black Bears in the season finale at 7:00 PM on April 27th.
It will be an intense year for the Coast Guard Academy Men’s Lacrosse program and one in which the team will be tested physically, mentally and emotionally. A key determinant of the Bear’s success will be the ability to develop team chemistry while continuing to push each other to improve.
Day/Date Time Opponent Venue
Sat Feb 25 1:00 PM @ Southern Conn State Univ Veteran’s Memorial Field
Fri Mar 2 7:00 PM @ Palm Beach Atlantic Univ PBAU #
Sat Mar 3 4:00 PM @ Elon Univ * PBAU #
Sun Mar 4 1:00 PM @ Emory University PBAU #
Tue Mar 6 4:00 PM @ Grand Valley State Univ PBAU #
Fri Mar 16 7:00 PM Bridgewater State College Cadet Memorial Field
Thu Mar 22 8:00 PM @ Briarcliffe College Holbrook HAL Complex
Wed Mar 28 7:00 PM @ University of New Haven UNH
Fri Mar 30 7:00 PM Carnegie Mellon University Cadet Memorial Field
Thu Apr 5 7:00 PM Central Conn State Univ Cadet Memorial Field
Fri Apr 8 8:00 PM @ Stonehill College W.B. Mason Stadium
Wed Apr 20 7:00 PM Worcester Polytechnic Institute Cadet Memorial Field
Fri Apr 27 7:00 PM University of Maine - Orono Cadet Memorial Field
* = Diversity Open House will occur before this game
# = Sailfish Shootout, Jupiter Community Park, 3377 Church Street, Jupiter, FL
For more information, check out our website at: www.coastguardlax.vicid.net
As the smallest of the five U.S. service academies, the Coast Guard Academy offers the elite higher education, rigorous professional development, and honor and tradition of a military academy but with a more personalized approach.
The Coast Guard Academy offers an integrated life experience which emphasizes academics, physical fitness, character and leadership, in order to graduate officers of the highest caliber. Graduates go directly to positions of leadership in "The Shield of Freedom," one of the most admired organizations in the world. The Academy also features an impressive teacher-student ratio and picturesque waterfront campus that instills a traditional small college feel.
Cadets devote themselves to an honor concept and graduate to work at sea, on land, in the air, and even in space, in meaningful careers of selfless service to others.