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The Syracuse Orange are the 28th team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the first team from the ACC. The Orange went undefeated in ACC regular season play and went to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the third straight season. They also went 9-2 in one-goal games last season, including seven straight.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Syracuse’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 2/10 | Binghamton | Syracuse | 9-8 W | |
| 2/17 | Albany | Syracuse | 10-9 W | |
| 2/24 | Army West Point | Syracuse | 14-13 L | |
| 3/4 | Syracuse | Virginia | ACC | 14-13 W |
| 3/10 | Johns Hopkins | Syracuse | 8-7 W/OT | |
| 3/18 | Syracuse | Rutgers | First meeting since 2013 (12-11 W); Former Big East rivals | |
| 3/24 | Syracuse | Duke | ACC | 12-11 W/OT |
| 3/31 | Notre Dame | Syracuse | ACC | 11-10 W |
| 4/3 | Hobart | Syracuse | Kraus-Simmons Trophy | 17-11 W |
| 4/10 | Syracuse | Cornell | 15-8 W | |
| 4/14 | North Carolina | Syracuse | ACC | 12-11 W/OT; 16-15 L |
| 4/21 | Navy | Syracuse | First meeting since 2004 National Championship (14-13 W) | |
| 5/5 | Colgate | Syracuse | 11-9 W |
There’s a couple of changes to this year’s schedule. First, Binghamton moves from the end of the schedule to the beginning, replacing Siena. The second change is extensive. The Johns Hopkins game is a week earlier than the traditional St. Patrick’s Day weekend slot, which replaces St. John’s. In Hopkins’ old spot is Rutgers, a former Big East rival.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: vs. Albany
Sorry to #TheDuopoly crowd, but the Upstate matchup between Albany and Syracuse is going to be a fun one to watch in mid-February. Albany has won just once against the Orange, which was with the Thompson Brothers back in 2012. This is the best Albany in maybe program history. A win over Syracuse would make all the hype surrounding the Great Danes legit.
Best Conference Game: @ Duke
Since Cuse’s 19-7 crushing win against Duke in the Carrier Dome in 2015, the two teams have played in three one-goal games, two ACC title games, two overtime games, and one game that was delayed due to a huge rainstorm. This rivalry has been a very exciting one to watch in recent years, and it helps that both teams are in the ACC.
Under The Radar Game: vs. Navy
Cuse’s schedule is really stacked this year. The “cupcakes” of Siena and St. John’s are gone, and in comes Rutgers and Navy. The Mids had a bad 2017 filled with injuries, but they looked solid during the fall. If they can look like the Midshipmen from 2016, it’ll be a great test for the Orange entering the grueling ACC Tournament.
Possible Upset: @ Cornell
The Big Red haven’t had the best of games when visiting the Carrier Dome, but the games in Ithaca have been kinder to Cornell. Back in 2016, the Big Red upset the Orange in overtime. With Jeff Teat and an emerging young offense, can Cornell shock the Orange again in another midweek matchup?