PISCATAWAY, N.J. (December 1, 2011) – Rutgers will have 15 games on its regular season schedule for the 2012 season, it was announced Thursday. The spring slate includes four games against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2011.
First-year head coach Brian Brecht was pleased with the Scarlet Knights' fall season practices and workouts, seeing the spring schedule as a challenge and opportunity.
"I feel the team has worked extremely hard this fall," Brecht said. "Everyone in the program, from the coaching staff to the players, is very aware of and excited for the spring season and the Big East and non-conference schedules that we have because of the challenge they present."
Seven of the 15 contests will be at home for the Scarlet Knights. Additionally, seven dates will be road trips and one will take place at a neutral site. RU's Big East matches are split evenly between three home games and three road games.
The opening game in Brecht's tenure will feature strong opposition as the Scarlet Knights will travel to Durham, N.C., on Feb. 11 to face Duke at 1:00 p.m. The Blue Devils advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season, compiling a 14-6 overall record.
"It is important for us to finish the fall semester strong academically and be mentally prepared to start our spring practices when we return to campus after the holiday break," Brecht said. "When you open the season with an opponent as talented as Duke, we will have to work with a sense of urgency and focus from the very beginning. There won't be time to ease into things."
The Scarlet Knights will then head up to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., on Feb. 19 to take on Air Force in a neutral site game at 11:00 a.m. Other games under the dome that day include Syracuse vs. Albany at 2:00 p.m. and Hobart vs. Siena at 5:00 p.m. RU will stay on the road to face Wagner on Feb. 21.
Rutgers will open the home schedule with games against UMBC (Feb. 26) and Lafayette (March 3).
Following a trip to Army in West Point, N.Y., on March 6, the Scarlet Knights will play hosts to Marist on March 13.
Big East action will begin at home for Rutgers against St. John's on March 17, continuing with trips to NCAA Tournament qualifier Notre Dame (March 25) and Providence (March 31).
RU will return home on April 7 to face Villanova, who earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last season.
The final road non-conference game will be against Ivy League member Princeton on April 10.
The Scarlet Knights will finish their home schedule with games against Syracuse (April 14) and Michigan (April 21) for Senior Day. Syracuse is the defending Big East champion and a NCAA Tournament quarterfinal team from a season ago.
The regular season will conclude with a trip to Washington, D.C., to go up against Georgetown on April 27.
Rutgers will take part in exhibition games with Penn and Lehigh in Philadelphia, Pa., on Feb. 4 prior to the official portion of the 2012 schedule.
Rutgers Men's Lacrosse 2012 Schedule
Day & Date Opponent Site Time
Sat., Feb. 4 at UPenn/Lehigh - scrim. Philadelphia, Pa. 12:00/2:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 11 at Duke Durham, N.C. 1:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 Air Force (Carrier Dome) Syracuse, N.Y. 11:00 a.m.
Tue., Feb. 21 at Wagner Staten Island, N.Y. 2:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 26 UMBC Home 12:00 noon
Sat., March 3 Lafayette Home 1:00 p.m.
Tue., March 6 at Army West Point, N.Y. 7:00 p.m.
Tue., March 13 Marist Home 7:00 p.m.
Sat., March 17 St. John's Home 3:00 p.m.
Sun., March 25 at Notre Dame South Bend, Ind. 1:00 p.m.
Sat., March 31 at Providence Providence, R.I. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., April 7 Villanova Home 1:00 p.m.
Tue., April 10 at Princeton Princeton, N.J. 7:00 p.m.
Sat., April 14 Syracuse Home 7:00 p.m.
Sat., April 21 Michigan Home 7:00 p.m.
Fri., April 27 at Georgetown Washington, D.C. 7:00 p.m.