LISTEN: @CuseMLAX held close with No. 10 @jhumenslacrosse before the Blue Jays ran away 11-9. @JoePuccio_ and @Jackgordon10_ were on the mic for the tight battle. pic.twitter.com/UsYxlYjF5X
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) March 11, 2023
In a tight battle in the JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse men's lacrosse (3-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) couldn’t quite finish it off in an 11-9 loss to No. 10 Johns Hopkins (5-3, 0-0 Big Ten Conference). This marks the fourth loss of the season for the Orange against ranked opponents.
Despite another close loss added to the resume, the 315 honored one of the greatest players in lacrosse history, Mike Powell, at halftime. Powell joins SU head coach, Gary Gait, as the second jersey retired in Syracuse lacrosse history.
The Orange got off to a hopeful start with goals from Cole Kirst and Owen Hiltz early in the first period. Johnny Richiusa was one of the reasons for SU’s favorable start. The faceoff specialist won 3-of-4 faceoffs to start the contest.
The Blue Jays responded with two of their own. It was 2-2 with 4:09 remaining in the opening frame. Joey Spallina scored his 17th of the season and gave the Cuse an advantage heading into the second period.
The second frame consisted of a back-and-forth battle between the two squads. Attack Garrett Degnon tied it up at three. Midfielders
Russell Melendez and Cameron Chauvette notched a goal a piece for Johns Hopkins.
Hiltz added two more for the Orange and Finn Thomson put Syracuse in front 6-5 over Johns Hopkins heading into halftime.
In the third period, Russell Melendez added two more scores to give the Blue Jays a 7-6 lead. Then, the Orange responded with two goals by freshmen Finn Thomson and Michael Leo and led 8-7. JHU tied it up at eight to conclude the third.
LISTEN: SU midfielder Michael Leo played flashy to get on the board for the first time today. @JoePuccio_ had the call.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) March 11, 2023
🎙️@waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P pic.twitter.com/XiVn9PU7RF
Leo scored his third goal of the day to give the Orange the lead once again, 9-8, at the beginning of the fourth period. SU was unable to close it out as JHU went on a 3-0 run to finish it off with goals by Matt Collison, Ryan Evans, and Patrick Deans. Deans scored with 34 seconds remaining.
“They made plays when they needed to and we showed that we’re still young and that we’re growing and that we’re learning,” said Gary Gait following the loss.
The contest featured nine ties and five lead changes. Both offenses had their chances, but ultimately it was Blue Jays’ goalie, Tim Marcile, who recorded a season-high 21 saves and gave SU its fourth consecutive loss.
Hiltz and Spallina led the Orange with four points each. Hiltz totaled three goals. Thomson and Leo recorded multi-goal games. Jacob Angelus led the Blue Jays with four points and Russell Melendez notched three scores.
Gary Gait says that “the last piece of the puzzle is making plays on the field, and we will get there. We’re just not there yet.”
Syracuse travels to Long Island for a chance to rebound on Tuesday against Hofstra (2-4, 0-0 Colonial Athletic Association) at 7 p.m. WAER’s coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with McClurg Team Countdown to Faceoff.