By Tom Hoffman
Area college lacrosse fans will have a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks as a number of games will be taking place in the Philadelphia area as the 2013 season gets into high gear. While a number of local schools have already started their seasons, many others will be hitting the field for the first time this weekend gearing up for Memorial Day weekend’s NCAA Championships taking place at Lincoln Financial Field.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens have already played twice this season, defeating High Point then falling to Bucknell, but will face a tough opponent this Saturday when the defending National Champion Greyhounds of Loyola University invade U of D’s Rullo Stadium for a 3 PM faceoff. Blue Hens attackman Eric Smith missed the 2012 season due to injury but already has 6 goals and 2 assists to start the 2013 campaign and will look to add to his totals against a stingy Loyola defense that ranked fifth in the nation in 2012. Jack Runkel will again be the starting keeper for the Greyhounds, who open the season as the top rated team in the country according to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches Poll and the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Rankings. In addition, Villanova University will open their 2013 season at Villanova Stadium on Saturday hosting Lehigh University at 1 PM. The Mountain Hawks are 1-0 already having defeated St. Joseph’s last weekend and enter the game ranked 10th in the Nike/IL poll and 11th in the USILA poll.
The following weekend, more big names will take the fields in the area starting on February 22 at 7 PM when the Duke Blue Devils will faceoff at Franklin Field against the University of Pennsylvania for the Quakers season opener. Saturday the 23rd will see a local Division III matchup featuring Haverford College at fifth ranked (USILA) Cabrini College at 1 PM. On February 26th, Villanova will travel to West Philadelphia and a date with Drexel University at Vidas Field while Penn takes a ride to City line Avenue to face St. Joseph’s.
These games are just an appetizer to get local college lax fans ready for what’s coming up the rest of the season, including the Inside Lacrosse Whitman’s Sampler Independence Classic on March 9 at PPL Park in Chester. This event, along with other key local games in March will be highlighted in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to LaxPhilly for previews of these upcoming games across all three NCAA divisions.
