Albany
University at Albany freshman attack Tehoka Nanticoke said the first college lacrosse match he ever watched on television was the Great Danes playing at Syracuse.
Nanticoke, a Native American from Six Nations, Ontario, guessed he was between 10 and 12 years old at the time.
"Albany was wearing the black and gold numbers, I think, so it was a long time ago," he said. "I liked how both teams were pushing (the tempo) back then. That's back when I didn't think I was going to be able to play college lacrosse."
Tehoka not only made it to college, he's ranked by Inside Lacrosse as the No. 1 ranked recruit in the country out of IMG Academy in Florida. He visited both campuses but chose the Great Danes over the Orange.
"I don't know, I just feel like Coach (Scott) Marr's style of play really fit me," Nanticoke said. "Run and gun, creativity, and that's what I liked about coming here."
He'll make his highly anticipated debut on Saturday afternoon when the Great Danes, ranked No. 3 in the coaches poll and No. 4 in the media poll, open against No. 8/7 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.
Nanitcoke and his team both come into the season riding a wave of preseason hype. It's the highest the Great Danes have ever been ranked coming into a season.
"It's exciting," Nanticoke said. "Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm still in preparation, but it's almost here, so it's like, wow. My first college game, when I didn't really think I was going to playing Division I (because of academics). My junior year before going to IMG, I didn't think it was really possible for me to be at a four-year school."
He'll try to help the Great Danes beat the Orange for only the second time in 17 all-time meetings, all at the Carrier Dome. UAlbany's only other win in the series was a 16-15 double overtime victory over Syracuse in 2013 when the Great Danes starred Native American brothers Lyle and Miles Thompson.
The Orange have beaten the Great Danes four in a row since then, most recently a 10-9 victory in last year's opener when Nick Mariano scored with 1.9 seconds left.
"Anytime you get to go in the Dome and play in front of a lot of people, it's exciting for us," UAlbany senior goalkeeper JD Colarusso said. "Last year, we lost by 1, so we're just trying to get over that hump. I lost by 1 my freshman year here (a 17-16 overtime loss in 2014), so it seems they always beat us."
This isn't the first time UAlbany has entered a Syracuse game being ranked higher than the Orange. The Great Danes were No. 2 in the nation with an 11-0 record when they entered the Dome on April 20, 2007. They departed with a 17-13 loss to then-No. 16 Syracuse.
Marr, entering his 18th season, was on the sideline for that match. He said this one won't be any easier, especially with Syracuse having a decided home-field advantage at the Carrier Dome.
"They know it's a huge challenge," Marr said. "I don't even look at us as a favorite in this game. You're down three goals going into the place. I still look at us as an underdog going in there."
Syracuse (1-0) opened last weekend with a 21-4 victory over Binghamton, the team UAlbany routed in last year's America East championship game. The Orange have sophomore attack Stephen Rehfuss of Shaker and freshman midfielder Lucas Quinn of Niskayuna, Rehfuss had a had trick and Quinn added two goals vs. Binghamton.
Syracuse coach John Desko expressed his respect for what Marr has built at UAlbany.
"I think you've seen a steady rise in their program," Desko said. "They're a real, for fans, a fun team to watch. Scott's really put it all together this year. There are no weaknesses."
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