February 1, 2012
ESPNU Warrior Classic Moves to Charlotte
from press releases
The third annual ESPNU Warrior Classic, a premier
college lacrosse doubleheader, will be played April 14 at the
21,000-seat American Legion Memorial Stadium and feature Rutgers
against No. 7 Syracuse in the first game at 11 a.m. ET, followed by
No. 11 Hofstra against No. 6 North Carolina at 1:30 p.m. The games
will be played at the home of Major League Lacrosse’s
Charlotte Hounds. Both contests will be televised on ESPNU.
Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 15 and are priced at
$20 for adults and $15 for children, senior citizens and students
with school ID. Group discounts will also be available at $12 per
ticket (minimum 50 people).
Hofstra, North Carolina and Syracuse all reached the NCAA
Championship in 2011. North Carolina has won four national titles
and played in five consecutive postseason tournaments, after
posting a 10-6 record in 2011. Syracuse has won 10 NCAA titles, the
highest total among all schools, and went 15-2 a year ago. Hofstra
finished 13-3 last season and reached the NCAA Championship for a
school-record fourth consecutive time. Rutgers held a 5-8 record
last season, and is now under the direction of first-year head
coach Brian Brecht.
“We are thrilled about being part of bringing Division I
lacrosse excitement to a growing area like Charlotte in the ESPNU
Warrior Classic," said Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney. "The
opportunity to expose our program and help grow the sport in a
great sports town like Charlotte is quite exciting. Like last year
in Connecticut, we thank ESPNU for putting together another great
day of lacrosse."
“We’re excited about being part of this
event,” said Syracuse head coach John Desko.
“It’s unique for our program and our players to play in
Charlotte and to receive some exposure there that we otherwise
wouldn’t. We thank ESPN for that opportunity and look forward
to facing Rutgers, one our conference rivals, on the national
stage.”
“We are thrilled and honored for the opportunity to be a
part of the ESPNU Warrior Classic in Charlotte,” said North
Carolina head coach Joe Breschi. “There are so many UNC fans
across the great state of North Carolina and this will give the Tar
Heel faithful an opportunity to see the Carolina Blue in action.
With the growth of the sport in the South and the addition of an
MLL team in Charlotte, this should be a sold out event!! Go
Heels."
“Rutgers is very excited to be part of such a
prestigious event, and we want to thank ESPN, Warrior and New
Balance for this opportunity,” said Rutgers’ Brian
Brecht. “Playing in a major league stadium and being part of
a doubleheader with three other top 10 programs provides Rutgers
with great national exposure, as well as giving our
student-athletes an unbelievable experience that they will always
remember.”
The first two years of the ESPNU Warrior Classic were played
at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. In the inaugural ESPNU
Warrior Classic in 2010, Denver defeated Fairfield and
Massachusetts defeated Georgetown. Last season, Syracuse defeated
Rutgers and Hofstra defeated Massachusetts.
ESPNU has been televising NCAA lacrosse matches since the
first week the network was launched in March 2005.





