MACON, Ga. – Mercer University's head coach Jason Childs has released his team's 2012 schedule. It is the second slate of games in program history, after becoming the first-ever NCAA Division I men's lacrosse program in the state of Georgia in 2011.
"I am truly excited about the schedule we were able to put together," Childs said. "This will give us an opportunity to grow as a program and be competitive at the same time.
"The travel is far less than last year, and that was my first priority in scheduling for 2012. We will not play north of Atlanta until March 21 when we travel to Towson. No one else in the country can say they will have the climate we will have for the first month and half of the 2012 season."
"The bookstore may not be able to sell any sweatshirts with lacrosse logos on it at games this year," Childs joked.
Perhaps more importantly, Mercer fans will have a total of six home contests at Bear Field. That's two more than Childs was able to secure – with his team competing as an independent - in putting together the team's first schedule last year.
"We are very excited to have six games at home," Childs explained. "Last year we had four and to add another two is great and puts us in a place where we will play more games at home than true away games. To have Ohio State (Feb. 11) on campus, as well as playing North Carolina (Feb. 12) right up the road in Atlanta, will give the fans in Georgia a lot of great lacrosse action to see very close to home.
"This will help continue our efforts of growing the game of lacrosse here in Macon and all of Georgia. I could not be more pleased with how this schedule came together."
In addition to Ohio State, the Bears will welcome Bellarmine (Feb. 18), Detroit Mercy (Feb. 25), Manhattan (Mar. 13), Wagner (Mar. 16) and St. Joseph's (Apr. 21 for the regular-season finale) to the Macon campus. The neutral-site game against North Carolina will be played at the Lovett School in Atlanta.
Mercer will also take on some high-octane foes on the road, as well. On a three-day swing to Jacksonville, Fla., MU will face the University of Michigan (Mar. 4), Holy Cross (Mar. 6) and Jacksonville (Mar. 10). Additionally, the team will play four-consecutive road contests at Towson (Mar. 21), Air Force (Mar. 31), Delaware (Apr. 9) and at VMI (Apr. 14).
Date Opponent Site Time
Feb. 11 OHIO STATE Macon, GA. 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 12 ^vs. North Carolina Atlanta, Ga. 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 18 BELLARMINE Macon, GA. 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 25 DETROIT MERCY Macon, GA. 1:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 #vs. Michigan Jacksonville, Fla. 12:00 p.m.
Mar. 6 #vs. Holy Cross Jacksonville, Fla. 3:00 p.m.
Mar. 10 at Jacksonville Jacksonville, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
Mar. 13 MANHATTAN Macon, GA. 3:00 p.m.
Mar. 16 WAGNER Macon, GA. 1:00 p.m.
Mar. 21 at Towson Towson, Md. 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 31 at Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 3:00 p.m.
Apr. 9 at Delaware Newark, Del. 1:00 p.m.
Apr. 14 at VMI Lexington, Va. 1:00 p.m.
Apr. 21 ST. JOSEPH'S Macon, GA. 1:00 p.m.
^ game played at Lovett School (Atlanta, Ga.)
# game played at Jacksonville University
All times Eastern
Schedule subject to change