Simon Fraser announces 2008 Lacrosse Schedule
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By William Howard, SFU Lacrosse Media Relations
Simon Fraser University Lacrosse
BURNABY, BC (December, 17, 2007) – Simon Fraser men’s lacrosse Co-Head Coaches Brent Hoskins and Jeff Cathrea have announced the Clan’s 14-game regular season schedule for 2008. The Clan will play one of the most difficult schedules in the nation with only four games scheduled to be played at home on Terry Fox Field atop the Burnaby Mountain campus.
“Our scheduling philosophy this season has been to build the strongest regular season schedule possible so that we are prepared to compete in the PNCLL Final Four Conference Championships and earn a spot in the MCLA National Championships in May” commented Cathrea.
“Our focus in recruiting is to attract the best lacrosse student-athletes” added Hoskins. “We are very confident in the young men who have chosen Simon Fraser and it is our objective each year to provide the opportunity to compete against the nation’s best programs.”
The 14-game regular season schedule is the first for Simon Fraser in school history. The Clan will open the season on the road against conference opponents University of Idaho on February 9th and Washington State University on February 10th. They will then travel to Utah for their first out-of-conference competition of the season against Westminster College (MCLA Div. II) on February 22nd, and the defending MCLA Div. I National Champions Brigham Young University on February 23rd. The team will then face another conference opponent Boise State University on February 24th.
After a challenging opening month on the road, the Clan will play their first home contest on March 2nd when they host the 2007 MCLA Division II National Champions University of Montana, who will compete in the MCLA’s first division in 2008. They will then embark on anther tough road trip to St. Charles, Missouri where they will face hosts Lindenwood University on March 7th, Texas A&M on March 8th, and University of Illinois on March 9th. The trip east will be the second time this season that the Clan will play three games in three days. On March 21st, the red and white will travel down the I5 to play the University of Washington on March 21st before playing their sixth out-of-conference opponent of 2008 when they face Sonoma State University in a neutral site game on the Seattle campus on March 22nd.
After playing 10 of their first 11 games on the road, April will bring the Clan its final three games at home. It will also bring the belated rematch of the 2007 PNCLL Conference Finals as the Clan open the month against rivals, the University of Oregon, on April 5th. The Ducks were the runners up in last year’s MCLA National Championship Final and have won the PNCLL conference title the last four seasons. The Clan will then square off against Oregon State University at home on April 6th before closing out the 2008 regular season on April 26th versus Gonzaga University.
A quick review of the opponents on the 2008 Simon Fraser schedule includes many of the MCLA’s top programs. The Clan will play both teams that advanced to last years MCLA Division I National Championship Finals (Brigham Young, Oregon) as well as the 2007 MCLA Division II National Champion (Montana). They will also face-off against three other MCLA Tournament teams (Sonoma, Lindenwood, Texas A&M) and one other opponent that finished the 2007 season ranked in the MCLA’s Top 25 (Illinois). The cumulative record of SFU’s 2008 opponents was 121-63 (.658) last season and seven opponents won 10 or more games.
2007 Simon Fraser Men’s Lacrosse Schedule
Feb. 9 – @ University of Idaho – 1:00pm
Feb. 10 – @ Washington State University – 12:00pm
Feb. 22 – @ Westminster College – 3:30pm
Feb. 23 – @ Brigham Young University – 2:00pm
Feb. 24 – @ Boise State University – 12:00pm
Mar. 2 – vs. University of Montana – 1:00pm
Mar. 7 – @ Lindenwood University – 7:00pm
Mar. 8 – vs. Texas A&M (@ Lindenwood) – 5:00pm
Mar. 9 – vs. University of Illinois (@ Lindenwood) – 11:00am
Mar. 21 – @ University of Washington – 7:00pm
Mar. 22 – vs. Sonoma State University (@ Washington) – 5:00pm
April 5 – vs. University of Oregon – 1:00pm
April 6 – vs. Oregon State University – 12:00pm
April 26 – vs. Gonzaga University – 1:00pm
May 3-4 – PNCLL Final Four Conference Championships ^ – TBA
May 13-17 – MCLA National Championships # – TBA
^ PNCLL Conference Championships hosted by University of Montana (Missoula)
# MCLA National Championships at Pizza Hut Park, Dallas, Texas
Simon Fraser University Men’s Lacrosse is entering its 12th season and competes in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). During the 2008 season, Co-Head Coaches Brent Hoskins & Jeff Cathrea (4th season) look to lead the Clan into the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL) Final Four Conference Championships for the 11th time in team history. The team has captured 6 Conference Titles (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003) and has earned 7 National Championship appearances, placing 2nd in 1999. The Clan are proudly sponsored by Firstar Performance Apparel, Riddell Helmets and Gait Lacrosse.
For more information on SFU Lacrosse please visit www.sfulacrosse.ca.
Contact: Brent Hoskins (604) 836-7748, bhoskins@alumni.sfu.ca
