LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Bellarmine University announced the 2012 lacrosse schedule today, which features 12 regular season games, seven Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) games, and just four home contests.

The Knights will see several of the nation's top teams in 2012 including national runner-up Maryland on April 28 in College Park, Md. and ECAC member Denver on April 6, who made it all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion Virginia.

Bellarmine will play four games on their home field at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium including the season opener on Feb. 11 against Robert Morris, hosting nationally ranked Loyola (Md.) on March 2nd, and Senior Day on March 14 against Hobart. Key road games include February 24 at Ohio State, April 8 at the Air Force Academy, and February 21 against Detroit.

BELLARMINE LACROSSE SCHEDULE 2012

FEBRUARY
11  Robert Morris  HOME   1 PM
18  Mercer              Away      1 PM

MARCH
2    Loyola (Md.)*     HOME   7 PM
6    Dartmouth         Away     3 PM
17  Michigan*          Away     3 PM
24  Ohio State*       Away      7 PM
31  Fairfield*           HOME    1 PM

APRIL
6    Denver*              Away      7 PM
8    Air Force*           Away      Noon
14  Hobart*              HOME    1 PM
21  Detroit-Mercy    Away       Noon
28  Maryland           Away       1 PM

MAY
3-5       ECAC Tourney  TBA
12-28  NCAA Tourney  TBA

* ECAC Game


SEASON PREVEIW:
A new era beings in 2012 for the Bellarmine University lacrosse team as it will be the first season under new head coach Kevin Burns.

After spending the previous five seasons as an assistant at the University of Massachusetts, Burns takes over a veteran team that features 18 seniors and 13 juniors on the roster.

The 2012 edition of Bellarmine lacrosse will also return the top seven goal scorers from last year's squad including senior Austin Bright and senior Colton Clark as the duo lead the team with a combined total of 48 points.
            
After battling through an emotional season in 2011 where the program saw their coach and founder Jack McGetrick lose his battle with the cancer, this year's team will look to improve on a 4-11 record and reach the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time in program history. Burns looks to help the Knights take the next step after the 2011 edition lost several heartbreaking games including falling in overtime at No. 16 Delaware.

The attack position should be a strength for the team with depth and talent across the board. Behind Bright, the Knights will turn to Luke Acton (16 goals, 2 assists) and Cam Gardner (18 goals, 6 assists)to provide a balanced assault at attack.  In all, Bellarmine returns 91% of their goals and 92% of total points scored in 2011.

Along with Clark, Bellarmine returns senior Karsen Leung (10 goals, 13 assists), junior Will Cary (12 goals, 7 assists), and junior Mitch McLaren (11 goals, 13 assists) to help execute on the offensive end at midfield. The Knights will also look to get a boost with the return of Trevor Timmerberg and Keaton Ohara to the lineup in 2012. Timmerberg was limited to just one game due to injury last year while Ohara sat out the entire season.

Defensively, Matt Silvia, Ross Doan and Austin Powell return to anchor a unit that ranked 27th in the nation in turnovers per game and 17th in ground balls. “Brick” Wipf will also bolster the back line for Bellarmine.

In the cage, Burns returns 6-5 junior Dillon Ward after another solid season in 2011 including recording a career-high 23 saves in Bellarmine's win over VMI.  Ward will be pushed by fellow junior Will Haas.