After a thrilling 28 goal performance in its first game of the season, Syracuse fell to top ranked Maryland on Sunday afternoon 14-10. The Terps were out to prove why they’re ranked as the best team in the nation, and did so by leading the game wire-to-wire. In the process, they spoiled Head Coach Gary Gait’s pregame jersey retirement ceremony.
Before SU could get on the board, UMD jumped out in front with five unanswered goals to begin the game. The Orange even went completely scoreless in the first quarter to start the contest in a hole. Maryland consistently did a better job of finishing plays, especially in the opening minutes.
“I honestly think we had more opportunities, and we just didn’t get the job done on the offensive end,” coach Gait said, “We need to get better, we need to trust in what we’re trying to do, and finish our opportunities.”
The Orange were able to cut their deficit to just one going into halftime, thanks to a pair of first-half hat tricks from attacker Tucker Dordevic and midfielder Lucas Quinn. The three goals for Quinn were the first of the senior’s season.
The game remained tight in the third quarter as well. Maryland put up two goals, but they were matched by a goal each from redshirt freshman Jackson Birtwistle and redshirt sophomore Mikey Berkman. Birtwistle’s score was the first of his collegiate career.
UMD set itself apart in the fourth quarter. The Terps put together their strongest scoring period of the game, finding twine five different times and burying the Orange. Coach Gait wasn’t thrilled with his defense’s performance postgame, but feels that if given time, it will improve.
“We got caught just making mistakes. When you see someone out of position you gotta help them and communicate to them,” said coach Gait, “I think we’ll just keep getting better at that stuff, and that comes through film, and through work, and through practice, and then ultimately it comes down to the players doing it and making plays.”
Dordevic continued to do his thing in the second half, finishing with five goals to tie his career high, which was set last weekend against Holy Cross. That gives the redshirt junior ten goals already on the season in just two games played.
Syracuse actually won the faceoff battle 15-13, so the team had chances to score, but couldn’t capitalize as often as Maryland did. In goal, Bobby Gavin also put on a valiant effort for 'Cuse, notching eleven saves. Logan Wisnauskas gave him the most trouble, leading the Terps with four goals and five total points.
The Orange play again this coming Saturday in Charlottesville, when SU travels to take on another top ranked team in Virginia. Pregame coverage will begin on WAER at 11:30 with GZA Countdown to Faceoff. Gametime is scheduled for noon.