LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University lacrosse team has announced its 13-game schedule for its 2015 campaign, which is highlighted by its first year in the Southern Conference.

BU (7-5 last season) will get its first taste of competitive action by scrimmaging at national runner-up Notre Dame on Jan. 25. Notre Dame isn't the only NCAA Tournament team that Bellarmine will square off with in the regular season. The Knights will clash with Air Force in a neutral-site game on April 4 in Texas. The Falcons were a former rival of the Knights in the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Michigan and Ohio State were also former ECAC counterparts of Bellarmine. The Knights open the regular season on Feb. 7 on the road against the Wolverines, while they will host the Buckeyes on Feb. 27 in the Midwest Classic Lacrosse Weekend, which also features a BU clash with Detroit on March 1 at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium. The Knights and Titans are frequent competitors, with 2015's game marking their seventh meeting.

Another fixture on Bellarmine's schedule has been Robert Morris. The Knights will have their 10th confrontation with the Colonials on Feb. 14, a road game that follows the opener at Michigan.

After three outings on the road, the Ohio State game on Feb. 27 marks Bellarmine's home opener and the second contest at Frazier Stadium comes two days later against Detroit. Following the battle with the Titans, the Knights will take the following weekend off before they open play for the first time in the seven-member Southern Conference with a game on March 14 at Furman.

That starts a stretch of three straight games — and six of eight to conclude the regular season — against Southern Conference opponents. The Knights will host Virginia Military Institute on March 21 and then play at Mercer on March 28.

Two nonconference games against familiar foes are next on the agenda. The Knights will welcome Marquette on March 31 before heading to Air Force for the aforementioned April 4 contest. It will be BU's third meeting with the Golden Eagles and the 10th with the Falcons.

Bellarmine closes the regular season with three more Southern Conference matchups. The Knights will host Jacksonville on April 11 and Richmond on April 18 on Senior Day before their finale on April 25 at High Point.

The first round of the Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled for April 30, with the championship game set for May 2. In addition to the Notre Dame scrimmage, Bellarmine has another scrimmage against Mercyhurst, which the Knights will host on Jan. 31.

2015 Bellarmine University Men's Lacrosse Schedule
Sunday, January 25: Notre Dame (Scrimmage), TBD, Away
Saturday, January 31: Mercyhurst (Scrimmage), TBD, Home
Saturday, February 7: Michigan, 1 p.m., Away
Saturday, February 14: Robert Morris, 11 a.m., Away
Friday, February 27: Ohio State, 7 p.m., Home
Sunday, March 1: Detroit, 3:30 p.m., Home
Saturday, March 14: Furman, TBD, Away#
Saturday, March 21: VMI, 1 p.m., Home#
Saturday, March 28: Mercer, 1 p.m., Away#
Tuesday, March 31: Marquette, TBD, Home
Saturday, April 4: Air Force, 1 p.m., Neutral
Saturday, April 11: Jacksonville, 1 p.m., Home#
Saturday, April 18: Richmond, 1 p.m., Home#
Saturday, April 25: High Point, 1 p.m., Away#
Thursday, April 30: SoCon 1^st Round, TBD
Saturday, May 2: SoCon Championship, TBD                             
 
Italics = Midwest Classic Lacrosse Weekend
# = SoCon Game