NCAA Tournament Teams, GWLL Foes Highlight 2006 Butler Lacrosse Schedule

Sept. 14, 2005

The 2006 Butler lacrosse schedule includes four 2005 NCAA Tournament teams and four regular-season contests and two exhibitions in Indianapolis, as Butler head coach Stan Ross announced the schedule today (Sept. 14). In addition to the full complement of Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) schools that appeared on the Bulldogs' 2005 slate, Ross and the Bulldogs will visit Towson and Princeton, two of Ross' stops in his coaching career.

"Based on last season's results, our schedule is difficult and challenging," said Ross. "Duke made the national championship game and is one of four NCAA Tournament teams on the schedule. That's not even counting Princeton, who is always a postseason threat. Our conference is strong top to bottom with Denver sharing last year's title and the rest of the teams on the rise. Of course, we're going to be better as a team this season, but our schedule might be 10 times as tough."

Butler opens the 14-game 2006 season by traveling to Duke Feb. 18. The Blue Devils finished the 2005 season with a record of 17-3 and advanced to the national championship game. It will be the ninth regular-season meeting between the schools. In the 2005 season opener, the Bulldogs dropped a 12-8 decision in Durham, N.C.

The Bulldogs continue the road swing to open the season with games at Rutgers (Feb. 25) and against Bucknell in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Mar. 4) the following two weekends. Butler opens up the home portion of its schedule March 11 against Marist. The teams were set to meet last season before inclement weather cancelled the contest. Marist went on to win the MAAC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament, where the Red Foxes were defeated by Johns Hopkins in the first round.

The team then returns to the road for almost a month, making stops at Towson (Mar. 15), Delaware (Mar. 18), Princeton (Mar. 24) and Robert Morris (Apr. 1). The Bulldogs will also face off against Bellarmine Mar. 26 at Princeton.

Ross spent six seasons as the top assistant at Towson before taking the head job at Butler. The Tigers finished the 2005 campaign with a record of 11-5 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Butler won the only previous meeting between the two schools, a 16-7 affair in 1998. Ross was at Princeton that season, helping the team to a national championship and 14-1 record.

The game against Delaware renews a rivalry that saw the teams play from 1996-2000. The Blue Hens lost to Towson in the finals of their conference tournament, but received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament based on their 11-6 record. Delaware lost to Navy in the first round. The Bulldogs defeated Robert Morris and Bellarmine at home last season.

Butler concludes the regular season with five conference games, including three at home. Familiar GWLL foes Notre Dame (Apr. 8), Air Force (Apr. 21) and Denver (Apr. 23) come to Indianapolis. The Bulldogs will make the quick trip over to Columbus to face Ohio State April 14 and will travel to Quinnipiac on either April 29 or 30 to close the regular season. 2006 marks Quinnipiac's first season in the GWLL. Butler defeated the Bobcats, 12-11, last season in overtime.

The Bulldogs will prepare for the spring schedule with two competition dates in the fall. Butler will participate in the MRB Buckeye Classic Oct. 1. The event features the Bulldogs taking on Maryland, a 2005 NCAA semifinalist, and the Michigan club varsity team. Ohio State also will take on the Wolverines and Terps. Games will be held on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center indoor field and at North Turf Field in Columbus, Ohio.

The event is named in honor of Michael R. Breschi, the late son of Ohio State head coach Joe Breschi, who died in March 2004 at age 3 in an accident. Admission is $5 and proceeds from the event will go toward the Michael Breschi Memorial Athletic Scholarship Fund at Ohio State.

The first opportunity for Butler fans to see the 2005-06 Bulldogs at home comes Oct. 15 when the Bulldogs will have a Blue-White scrimmage as part of the Homecoming Weekend festivities. The scrimmage is set for 4:15 p.m., following the Butler-Valparaiso football game. The renovated Butler Bowl, with a new artificial playing surface, will host both games.

Butler posted a 5-7 record in 2005, Ross' first season with the Bulldogs. The team graduated just four seniors from last season's squad.

Single-game tickets for Butler lacrosse are $5 for adults and $3 for youth. Butler also offers "Get In The Game" cards ($25) and Jr. Bulldog memberships ($25 new, $15 renewal), which provide admission to all home contests for volleyball, football, women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, and lacrosse (Jr. Bulldogs also include men's basketball). Information, including special group prices, is available by contacting the Butler ticket office at (317) 940-9390.

To view the complete 2005-06 Butler lacrosse schedule, click here.