thanks to Daniel Supraner, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications – Florida Tech for this press release   MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men’s Lacrosse) – It took just four years for Florida Tech to bring national relevance to lacrosse in Brevard County. Coming off a program-best season, a runner up finish in the Sunshine State Conference Championship and a final national ranking of No. 12, expectations are at an all-time high for the Crimson and Gray. With his team on the rise, entering 2016 ranked No. 13 in both the Nike/Lax Magazine and USILA Coaches’ Polls, head coach Ryan McAleavey has prepared the Panthers’ most challenging schedule to date. “Our goal every year is to put in the best schedule possible for our team to compete,” stated McAleavey. “With the success that we’ve had recently, our credibility as a program has definitely risen and stronger teams are more willing to play us. Our main goal is to win a national championship and you’re not going to make it there if you don’t compete against the best.” Of the 13 games on this year’s slate, nine will pit the Panthers against teams ranked in the preseason Top-20. Highlighting the schedule are games against three teams appearing in the Top-10, including a road trip in mid-March to face two-time defending national champion Limestone. The Panthers are set to play seven games at Florida Tech Panther Stadium in the months of February and April, but will be on the road for all five games during the month of March. FIT opens the campaign with four home contests, kicking off with its season opener on Friday, Feb. 5 against Young Harris and then hosting North Greenville on Feb. 13. Following a 13-day layoff, the Panthers welcome Lenoir-Rhyne to Melbourne on Feb. 26. LRC will be looking for revenge in this year’s matchup as the then-No. 15 Bears were upset at home by the Panthers last season 13-12. Two days later, FIT hosts Mars Hill on Feb. 28. Just like last season, FIT will embark on a Spring Break trip for three games against out-of-region opponents to open the month of March. The Panthers begin with a neutral site contest on March 7 against another team featured in the polls, Wheeling Jesuit, at Johns Hopkins’ legendary lacrosse stadium, Homewood Field. “We have a lot of guys on our team from Maryland, so we want to make it an annual trip going up there to compete,” McAleavey said. “Through our connections at John Hopkins, we have provided the guys the opportunity for the Division I experience. I remember my senior year at Dowling College we made the trip and played Pfeiffer at Hopkins. It was pretty cool just to be engulfed in the history of the sport. Hopkins is one of the most historic programs, so to be able to play there is something special.” On March 9, FIT will be in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to face No. 8 Seton Hill before ending the journey the following day in Philippi, West Virginia for a matchup with Alderson Broaddus on March 10. The non-conference schedule will come to a close when the team travels to Gaffney, South Carolina on March 19 for the much anticipated bout with unanimous preseason No. 1 Limestone. “Limestone will be the toughest game we play all year,” McAleavey stated. “They’re two-time defending national champs. They return seven All-Americans, the national player of the year and have two student-athletes up for player of the year this season. Any individual or team award out there, Limestone is probably up for that honor. This might be the best Limestone team ever. It’s going to be a real challenge, but one we need to overcome to reach where we want to go.” FIT opens SSC play with a road game at Florida Southern on March 26. The Panthers then return home for two straight conference showdowns with Saint Leo on April 1 and rival Tampa on April 6. This year, FIT will be looking for revenge against Tampa after dropping both meetings with the Spartans last season. On April 16, FIT makes a visit to Rollins and then closes out the regular season April 23 with the Panthers’ Senior Night game against Lynn. This season, the SSC semifinals and championship will take place April 29 and May 1, respectively, with both games being played at the home of the top-seeded team in the conference.   For up-to-date coverage of the Panthers throughout the season, log onto FloridaTechSports.com<http://www.floridatechsports.com/>.   2016 Schedule: http://www.floridatechsports.com/mlacrosse/schedule/ 2016 Roster: http://www.floridatechsports.com/mlacrosse/roster/   Daniel Supraner Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Florida Tech Athletics 150 W. University Blvd. Melbourne, Fla. 32901 Work: 321-674-7484 Fax: 321-984-8529