Holy Cross athletic director Richard M. Regan, Jr., and head men's lacrosse coach Jim Morrissey have announced the Crusaders' 2012 schedule. Holy Cross is scheduled to play 15 regular season games, including six home contests. The Crusaders will play two teams that made it to the 2011 NCAA Tournament (Bucknell and Hartford).Holy Cross will start the season with two straight away games at St. John's (Feb. 18) and defending America East Tournament champion Hartford (Feb. 25). The Crusaders will then play their home-opener versus Harvard (Feb. 28).
The Crusaders will open the month of March by hitting the road to play at Jacksonville (March 4). Holy Cross will then play a neutral site game at Jacksonville versus Mercer (March 6). Last season the Crusaders defeated the Bears by a 14-5 score. Holy Cross will return home to start its Patriot League season with a contest versus Colgate (March 10). After the Crusaders play in Worcester against Vermont (March 13), they will hit the road for games with Navy (March 17) and Lehigh (March 24).
Holy Cross will play three straight home games with contests versus 2011 Patriot League Tournament champion Bucknell (March 31), Lafayette (April 7) and Bryant (April 10). The Crusaders defeated Lafayette last season, 9-6. The Crusaders will then hit the road for contests at Providence (April 14) and Army (April 21). The Patriot League Tournament will take place on April 27 and April 29, on the campus of the regular season champion. The top four teams in the final regular season standings will qualify for the tournament. The Crusaders will conclude the regular season at Dartmouth (May 1).
Last season the Crusaders went 2-13 overall (1-5 Patriot League). Holy Cross returns 27 letterwinners and six starters. Fourteen freshmen have joined the program. The Crusaders will be led by senior captains David Henry (Davidson, Md.) and A.J. Guarente (Gaithersburg, Md.), and junior captain James Kennedy (Summit, N.J.).