The men’s lacrosse team released its schedule today for the Quakers’ first season under new head coach Mike Murphy. And he doesn’t look to be taking any time to ease into the new role, as this year’s schedule looks to be tough as ever.

The Quakers open on Feb. 27, traveling to Durham, N.C., to take on Duke. The Blue Devils fell in the NCAA Semifinals last year, losing to eventual champion Syracuse, and look to again be in the mix for the national championship. They end the regular season with another ACC title contender in Maryland, traveling to College Park, MD on May 4. From what I’ve read, those two are the widespread favorites for the crown this year.

This season will also feature the inaugural Ivy League Tournament. As I wrote in an article last year, the top 4 teams in the Ivy League will play in a two-round tournament and the victor will receive the League’s automatic bid to the NCAAs

All in all, the Quakers will take on 6 of the 16 teams that played in last year’s NCAA Tournament (including 3 Ivies), and 7 that ranked in the top-20. Read below the jump for the full schedule and my comments.

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Despite claiming they’re hated on, the women’s lacrosse team dominated the Ivy League All-Ivy selections (although the release does misstate that Princeton is facing Colgate in the second round when it’s actually Penn that’s facing the Raiders).

The Quakers led the conference with six selections, including Player of the Year Sarah Waxman, and two other unanimous First Teamers, senior attack Rachel Manson and sophomore midfield Ali DeLuca. The other three recognized Quakers were senior midfield Melissa Lehman and senior defense Tarah Kirnan on the First Team and junior defense Hilary Renna on the Second Team.

Waxman, who leads the nation’s goalkeepers with a 5.97 goals-against-average with only 82 goals given up, is only the Quakers’ second Ivy League POY ever. The other one, ironically also a goalie, was Wendy DiDomenico who won it in 1989. Waxman was voted the IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year last season.

DeLuca was Ivy League Rookie of the Year last year and appears near the top of the Quakers’ stat sheets in nearly ever category this year, ranking first in draw controls (36), caused turnovers (21) and tied for first in game-winning goals (3). She’s also second in assists (14), third in goals (19) and points (33) and fourth in ground balls (21).

Manson and Lehman have led the Quakers’ attack with 27 and 26 goals, and 18 and 10 assists, respectively. Manson was a Second Team selection and Lehman an honorable mention last year. Kirnan and Renna have anchored a defense that has only given up 6.00 goals per game, best in the nation. Renna was a unanimous First Teamer last year.

Looking towards the Quakers’ first round opponent in the NCAA tournament tomorrow, Colgate has only one All-Patriot League selection. Freshman midfield Colleen Bubnack got a Second Team selection after leading the Raiders in assists, caused turnovers and draw controls.

ON THE MEN’S SIDE: Junior attacker Craig Andrzejewski earned the Quakers’ sole First Team recognition. The product out of Parkton, Md., lead the Quakers with 40 points, becoming the first All-Ivy First Teamer since both Will Phillips and Patrick Connelly earned the nod in 2004. The Quakers also had a Second Teamer — freshman midfielder Al Kohart — and an honorable mention — senior Max Mauro, a defender.