ANDERSON, S.C. – The Anderson University men's lacrosse team has released their schedule for the upcoming 2023 season. Upperclassmen Peyton Jefferson and Ryley Zopfi have been selected as team captains.

The slate of games features eight non-conference games, four away and four at Spero Financial Field. The season opens on February 4th as the Trojans host Chowan, before traveling to Florida the following weekend for two matches against Florida Southern and Embry-Riddle (Fla.). Upon their return, Anderson starts a five-game homestand, including three non-conference opponents: Lees-McRae (Feb. 15), Young Harris (Feb. 18), and Rollins (Feb. 24). The final two games of the homestand marks the beginning of conference play, versus Coker (Mar. 4) and Limestone (Mar. 11).

"We are really excited for our out-of-conference schedule this year," said coach Albert Mitchell. "We have expanded the number of teams we are playing, and it serves as a challenge that will prepare us for conference play. We will play two teams that finished last season in the USILA top-12, as well as some other teams that I am sure will climb into that conversation this year as well."

The first road trip of South Atlantic Conference play takes the Trojans to Tusculum University on Wednesday March 15th, with another away game on Saturday (Mar. 18) at Lander University. Anderson plays host to Catawba on Mar. 25, then at Newberry on the 29th. The final non-conference tilt of the campaign takes place on April 1st at North Greenville.

Perhaps the most significant win from last season was on March 19th, 2022, when the Trojans upset then nationally ranked No.3 Wingate. The two teams are set for a rematch on April 8th in Wingate, North Carolina. Anderson braces for another nationally ranked team in Lenoir-Rhyne on April 12th, before wrapping up the home campaign on the 15th versus Mars Hill. For the final match of the regular season, coach Mitchell's squad travels to Lincoln Memorial University on the 22nd.

"This year's conference slate is like every other year's- highly challenging but incredibly exciting," said Mitchell. "To have the opportunity to play two national quarterfinalists and one semifinalist in conference play is something no other conference can say. Along with these teams, the conference top to bottom is a challenge every week. This is what makes playing in the SAC so much fun."

In just their second season in program history, the Trojans clinched a winning season with a 9-7 record and a 5-5 clip in the SAC. On March 21st after upsetting Wingate, Anderson earned a spot in the USILA National Coaches Poll at No.19. Four Trojans (Cam Weeks, Beau Henson, Peyton Jefferson, and Joey Heckel) were named to the All-SAC teams with Cam Weeks earning USILA Faceoff Player of the Year and All-American honors. Henson earned USILA Scholar All-American recognition.

2023 FULL SCHEDULE