For the beginning of the Tigers’ season, Mizzou Lacrosse will be posting a few “Top Five” lists on the program.
Today’s list…five out-of-conference games the Tigers are looking forward to. The list comes from the 12 teams on Missouri’s schedule that are not members of the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRLC) Division-1.
1) Florida State (away, 2/26)
In their first game against an MCLA Top 25 opponent since 2013, the Tigers will square off against the 19th-ranked Seminoles in Tallahassee. The game will pit the Tigers against one of the most storied programs in SELC history and can position the team well in the national rankings if they’re able to pull off the road upset.
2) Minnesota (away, 4/16)
After snow cancelled a meeting between the two programs in 2014, the Tigers are looking to avenge their 20-9 loss against the Golden Gophers during the 2013 season. This season’s game between Missouri and preseason #23 Minnesota will be on a neutral field at Iowa State. If the Tigers are able to stop Minnesota’s high-scoring offense, they should be able to get the win against the UMLC leaders.
3) Davenport (away, 3/26)
The third MCLA Preseason Top 25 opponent, the Davenport Panthers will take on Missouri for the first time in school history in 2015. A perennial top program in the CCLA, this game will be the first of two on the same day for the Tigers in Bloomington, Indiana. This game will be a good test for the team to see how they compete against top teams in the midwest and to give the program a benchmark on what they need to work on once conference play starts the following competitive weekend.
4) Alabama (home, 3/14)
In a matchup of two SEC programs, the Tigers will welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide to Columbia for the first time. After not playing each other at the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans, this will give Missouri an opportunity to take on the squad from the SELC. The game between the Tigers and Crimson Tide will be the second of two against SEC opponents (Texas A&M, 3/6) and will be the team’s final home out-of-conference game of the 2016 season.
5) Iowa State (away, 4/17)
For the third year in a row, Missouri and Iowa State will square-off on the lacrosse field. After playing the past two seasons in Columbia, the Tigers will return the favor and travel up to Ames, Iowa to take on the UMLC opponent. In 2014 Missouri barely got by Iowa State in their home opener, defeating the Cyclones 9-8, while last season it took a Luc Surges goal in overtime to beat the squad from the north.
