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The Bellarmine Knights are the 35th team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the fifth team from the SoCon. The Knights just missed out on the SoCon Tournament after losing to Jacksonville in the last game of the regular season.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Bellarmine’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) |
| 2/9 | Robert Morris | Bellarmine | 10-8 L | |
| 2/13 | Bellarmine | Michigan | 13-5 L | |
| 2/17 | Cleveland State | Bellarmine | First ever meeting (scrimmaged last year) | |
| 2/24 | Bellarmine | Manhattan | First meeting since 2008 (8-7 W/OT); In Philadelphia, PA | |
| 3/2 | Bellarmine | Detroit Mercy | Midwest Lacrosse Classic | 13-10 L |
| 3/4 | Bellarmine | Marquette | First meeting since 2016 (9-7 L); Midwest Lacrosse Classic (In Detroit, MI) | |
| 3/17 | Bellarmine | High Point | SoCon | 7-5 W |
| 3/24 | Bellarmine | Jacksonville | SoCon | 17-11 L |
| 3/31 | Air Force | Bellarmine | SoCon | 20-2 L |
| 4/7 | Bellarmine | Richmond | SoCon | 13-6 L |
| 4/14 | Mercer | Bellarmine | SoCon | 12-11 W |
| 4/21 | Bellarmine | VMI | SoCon | 13-8 W |
| 4/28 | Furman | Bellarmine | SoCon | 19-6 L |
Marquette replaces Ohio State as the other game for the Knights in the Midwest Lacrosse Classic, while Cleveland State and Manhattan are on this year’s schedule. Off it are Mount St. Mary’s and Quinnipiac.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: vs. Robert Morris
The Knights lost by two when these teams played each other last season. The Colonials return nine of their top scorers from last year and will try to make a run at the NEC title. Bellarmine will need to find a replacement for Tucker Ciessau on offense. Maybe midfielder Brian Wall?
Best Conference Game: vs. Mercer
A one-goal victory for the Knights in last year’s meeting in Georgia should mean this game will be close yet again. With Bellarmine losing Ciessau on offense, Mercer loses Lucas Wittenberg as well.
Under The Radar Game: vs. Cleveland State
I’ll be intrigued to see how the Knights fare against the Vikings in a regular season game. In their scrimmage last year, Bellarmine won 13-7. Both teams will have some games under their belts when this meeting comes.
Possible Upset: vs. Marquette (in Detroit, Michigan)
These two teams haven’t played since the 2016 season, where the Golden Eagles edged the Knights by two. Things have changed for Marquette’s roster, but they have a solid FOGO in Zachary Melillo and a good goalie in Cole Blazer, amongst others. It’s the second of two games in three days for both teams, with Marquette playing Ohio State in the first game. Could they be a little more fatigued than the Knights?