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It’s Do-Or-Die Time for Syracuse against No. 15 UNC

Syracuse FOGO Jakob Phaup works against North Carolina’s Zac Tucci in last year’s game between the two. Tucci went 15-23 at X; Phaup was just 4-11.
Cuse.com
Syracuse FOGO Jakob Phaup works against North Carolina’s Zac Tucci in last year’s game between the two. Tucci went 15-23 at X; Phaup was just 4-11.

In order to be considered for the NCAA Tournament, a team must finish .500 or better. Syracuse sits at just 4-7 with only three games left. So, Gary Gait’s squad must win out to keep its slim postseason hopes alive. Unfortunately for the Orange, their first opponent in the home stretch isn’t exactly a slouch. No. 15 North Carolina makes for a tough task, especially on the road. Syracuse is just 1-6 against ranked opponents this season, including 0-4 on the road.

“We still have three games,” Gait said. “As a group, we’ve done a lot of great work and we’ve got more work to do. This team is not gonna give up. They will continue to give it everything they have for every single game.”

The good news for SU: UNC hasn’t exactly fared well in conference play. The Tar Heels are 0-3 against ACC opponents. North Carolina has only amassed 21 goals in those three contests. One of those losses was to Duke at home 15-6. Remember: Syracuse beat Duke at the Dome a few weeks ago. The Orange haven’t won since then.

The Last Meeting

Syracuse and North Carolina last met on Senior Day in the Dome in 2021. But rather than the usual camaraderie that comes with that celebration, it was a day of despair for the Orange. UNC throttled SU 21-9 in a game that was over within minutes. The Tar Heels jumped out to a 5-0 lead less than halfway through the first quarter and never looked back. It was a well-balanced attack. 14 players found the back of the net for North Carolina, including six players off the bench. One of them was Connor McCarthy, who was the only Tar Heel to record a hat trick.

Tucker Dordevic works around North Carolina’s defense in 2021. Dordevic was a lone bright spot in the SU loss, scoring four goals.
Cuse.com
Tucker Dordevic works around North Carolina’s defense in 2021. Dordevic was a lone bright spot in the SU loss, scoring four goals.

65 Shades of Gray

If Syracuse is to have any chance of coming out of Chapel Hill victorious, it must contain Chris Gray. The attack has dominated for the Tar Heels, leading the way with 39 goals and 26 assists. Gray also leads the ACC in Points Per Game. But the grad student has been playing like this for a long time.

When you’re within serious striking distance of the career points record, you’re doing something right. SU experienced this first-hand last year. Gray went off for eight points, including six assists, in last year’s dominant UNC victory. He must be SU’s top priority defensively tomorrow.

Syracuse Defenseman Dami Oladunmoye attempts to defend North Carolina’s Chris Gray in last year’s showdown. Gray had his way with the Orange, accumulating eight points.
Cuse.com
Syracuse Defenseman Dami Oladunmoye attempts to defend North Carolina’s Chris Gray in last year’s showdown. Gray had his way with the Orange, accumulating eight points.

What’s The Fallout of a Loss?

Plain and simple, it would be a new low for a program that has fallen from grace since 2020. A loss would give the Orange eight in a season for just the fifth time in program history. It would be SU’s second losing season since 1975. It would assure Syracuse misses the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Needless to say, it’s do-or-die time.

Opening faceoff between Syracuse and North Carolina is scheduled for 4:00 Saturday. Our coverage begins with GZA Countdown to Faceoff at 3:30.