truebluefan

This season's college lacrosse schedule includes extensive regular-season action on ESPNU, plus coverage of the entire NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. The ESPN networks will open coverage with two games on ESPNU Saturday, Feb. 23, when 2007 National Champion #1 Johns Hopkins will host #12 Albany at 12:00 p.m. ET and #16 Loyola (Md.) will play at #13 Towson at 10:00 p.m. (tape delay).

In addition, ESPN2 will air the first-ever regular-season college lacrosse game in the history of the network at noon on Saturday, Mar. 29, with #3 Virginia visiting #6 Maryland. In all, the networks combined will televise 47 games, including 32 regular-season matchups (up from 21) and 15 NCAA tournament contests, primarily on ESPNU.

ESPNU's men's lacrosse regular-season line-up will showcase 17 of the top 25 teams, while all three of the women's teams to be featured on ESPNU ranked in the top 20 last season. Of the 16 men's NCAA tournament teams from 2007, 14 will make at least one appearance.

The schedule features 24 contests between top 25 teams, including a rematch of the 2007 National Championship game between Johns Hopkins and #2 Duke on Saturday, April 5, and the second annual Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic, featuring #11 Syracuse vs. Virginia and Johns Hopkins vs. #8 Princeton on Saturday, March 1.

As part of its multi-year agreement with Johns Hopkins University lacrosse, ESPNU will continue presenting every home game for the men's team. This season, Johns Hopkins will be featured 13 times, including 11 men's games and two women's matchups.

For the second year in a row, the ESPN networks will televise the entire NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. ESPNU will televise the exclusive announcement of the 16-team field for the NCAA Tournament during a special one-hour selection show on Sunday, May 4 at 9:00 p.m. ESPNU will also provide exclusive coverage of all eight First Round games and Quarterfinal action (May 10–18); ESPN2 will televise the National Semifinals (May 24) and ESPN will present the National Championship on May 26.

The commentators slated for this season's coverage will include Mark Dixon, Scott Garceau, Quint Kessenich, Dave Ryan, 2006 Tewaaraton Trophy Winner and National Champion at the University of Virginia, Matt Ward and more.

laxman37

Finally...

lacrosse is getting more and more exposure, and it allows those who love watching the sport get more opportunities to do so!

Thank you ESPN!

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Dadabhoy

Thats good to hear. Its good to see lacrosse getting some air time.

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marilive

I know North Carolina lacrosse players will be tuning in. With Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill being the two "spotlight" teams here in NC, lacrosse is ever increasing in popularity.

Now if we can get some HS Athletic Directors to jump on the bandwagon and promote lacrosse as much as they do football, then we would get the respect and funding we deserve.

Bob Cole

Great, but I'd like to see ESPN2 start to carry more lacrosse! I think most of the cable systems get ESPN and ESPN2, but not necessarily ESPNU. I know I don't get ESPNU or CSTV. So, I don't get much more lacrosse than the NCAA semis and finals.

Bob Cole

Don't get me started on HS recognition! I know they have their own problems. Don't High Schools have to meet the same Title 9 requirements as colleges, but with less money! On the other hand, my state HS athletic association requires a sport to be played by something like 90% of the high schools in the entire state before it can be officially sanctioned! That means lacrosse, and MOST other sports, don't have a chance. And, my local HS athletic director is VERY pro- basketball and football. It's hard to get him to see anything else is important at all. But, I do get access to school gyms and fields for free, for my club lacrosse team. So, it's a mixed bag. But, not easy!

rglax

quoted for emphasis. I dont watch TV enough to warrent purchasing ESPNU and so can only see the rare games on espn2 (like the final 4) and local channels that show rutgers or syracuse

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AIM-shenanigans1821

laxman37

While it would be nice to get more games on ESPN2, at least it's being aired!

Sure, you can always do better, but be happy for what you have.

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Baylorlax12

i love ESPN normally they just air the Semifinals and the Finals but everyone needs to accept that lacrosse is growing very fast