After losing their first game of the season to Army, Syracuse got a much needed first win of the season when the Orange routed the second-ranked Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday, 20-10.
The game got out to a fast start with Syracuse and Virginia combining for 6 goals in the first 8 minutes of action, with Syracuse heading into intermission up 9-7. The game changed dramatically once the second half began as the Orange outscored the Cavaliers 11-3.
Here are three things we learned:
Syracuse’s offense is incredibly balanced
Syracuse scored 20 points on Saturday night, nine in the first half and 11 in the second. Syracuse had four players with hat tricks (Brandan Curry, Tucker Dordevic, Stephen Rehfuss, and Owen Hiltz) as SU moved the ball efficiently and gave everyone opportunities to score.
“Obviously after last week it was great to come out and have a whole team effort,” Syracuse head coach John Desko said. “It was just what the doctor ordered; we needed that one.”
A team effort indeed.
Nine different players scored in this one with seven having two or goals. Syracuse’s 10 goal victory on Saturday was the largest margin of victory for either school in this storied rivalry.
This was the first game that either team had won by more than one goal in six games. Before this ten goal victory, the largest victory was held by the 1938 Syracuse team when they beat Virginia 13-4.
» Related: Syracuse looks listless in opening season loss to Army
Faceoffs are still Syracuse’s strength
Much like last year, Syracuse continues to dominate on faceoffs.
The Orange had their way with the Cavaliers on Saturday winning 22 of the 33 faceoffs on the evening. Their superiority on the X helped catapult Syracuse to a healthy lead in the second half and by the end had Syracuse milking clock halfway though the fourth quarter.
“The game starts with the faceoff,” said Desko, “I thought Jakob Phaup did an outstanding job on the faceoffs today.”
Drake Porter’s resilience shines
If you’re a follower of Syracuse lacrosse, you are already aware of Drake Porter’s brilliance in the net. The senior had a rocky start in this one as UVA scored three goals in under three minutes early on in this one giving UVA their one and only lead of the game. Porter settled in and only allowed seven more through the entirety of the game.
“[Virginia] had some opportunities, especially in the third quarter and [Drake Porter] made some great saves which was huge for our defense,” Desko said.
Porter would finish with 13 saves.
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