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#13 Syracuse Blitzes Holy Cross En Route to 28-5 Win

Owen Seebold (14) celebrates one of his five goals in Syracuse’s 28-5 win over Holy Cross. (photo courtesy of cuse.com)
Owen Seebold (14) celebrates one of his five goals in Syracuse’s 28-5 win over Holy Cross. (photo courtesy of cuse.com)

Nine goals after one quarter. Nineteen at halftime. It was true domination from Syracuse men’s lacrosse in its season-opening win over Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon. Gary Gait’s team started his first game with a flurry. The Orange scored the first 10 goals of the game and never looked back.

Mikey Berkman, Owen Seebold, Brendan Curry, and Tucker Dordevic all totaled a hat trick in the first half. Seebold led the way with five goals, but Curry led the team in points in the first half with six, on four goals and two assists.

Tucker Dordevic was one of two Syracuse players to score five goals against Holy Cross (photo courtesy of cuse.com)
Tucker Dordevic was one of two Syracuse players to score five goals against Holy Cross (photo courtesy of cuse.com)

“I thought Mikey stepped in and did a great job,” Gait said after the game. “The entire attack did.”

SU executed on the defensive end of the field as well. Bobby Gavin had seven saves on ten shots in half number one while the defense in front of him forced six turnovers.

That wasn’t the only place SU dominated. Jakob Phaup went 15-18 at the face-off “x” in the first half, which helped power SU’s offensive explosion. Jack Savage also got time late in the second quarter, but he went just 1-6.

In the second half, it was more of the same. The Orange scored six goals in the third quarter, and it was a couple of different guys getting in on the action. Liam Ferris, Jack Savage, and Matteo Corsi are just a few of the young players who got on the scoreboard for SU.

Holy Cross was able to get its fourth goal of the game early in the fourth quarter, but SU responded with another of its own. The Orange would not slow down and ended up putting up 28 goals on the Crusaders. It was a struggle all day for the Holy Cross goalies, as A.J. Fox and Dawson Friers combined to let in 28 goals on 34 shots on goal.

On the Syracuse side, goaltender Harrison Thompson came in after halftime and made a couple of saves in the third quarter, holding Holy Cross scoreless. The goalie battle between Thompson and Gavin was a hot topic in the lead-up to the season, with Gary Gait not letting anything slip in terms of who was going to start the opener.

"I thought both goalies played outstanding,” Gait said postgame. “With Bobby joining the team, it gives us depth at that position. Harrison Thompson was outstanding in the fall. They give us depth."

Gary Gait won his first game as the fifth head coach in the history of Syracuse Men’s lacrosse. (Photo courtesy of cuse.com)
Gary Gait won his first game as the fifth head coach in the history of Syracuse Men’s lacrosse. (Photo courtesy of cuse.com)

Gavin, the Virginia transfer, got the starting nod, but both netminders played well, albeit it was against a weak offense. Next week’s task will be a much tougher test for both goaltenders when number two Maryland comes to the Dome.

The Terrapins also had a dominant win on Saturday, defeating Loyola 20-8 one week after downing High Point 21-13. Maryland is ranked second in the nation for a reason, and the Orange will see the level of competition take a huge uptick next weekend.

“Know your role, and do your job,” Gait said “That’s certainly what they did today.”

It’s a very special day on February 20th, as Gary Gait’s number 22 heads up to the rafters of the Carrier Dome, and Roy Simmons Jr. enters the Syracuse ring of honor.

GZA Countdown to faceoff starts at 11:30 on Sunday before Syracuse and Maryland open things up at noon in the Dome on WAER.

TAGS: WAER Sports, Syracuse Men’s Lacrosse, Gary Gait, Tucker Dordevic, Brendan Curry, Harrison Thompson, Bobby Gavin, Attack, Defense, Holy Cross

TWEET: READ: @CuseMLAX dominated Holy Cross 28-5 in Gary Gait’s head coaching debut. @ethanfrank23 has more on the Orange’s demolition of the Crusaders in the opener for the fifth head coach in the history of Syracuse Men’s Lacrosse.