LISTEN: @CuseMLAX dropped its second straight game in a 19-13 loss to @UNCMensLacrosse. @bespector and @EthanGFrank had the call. pic.twitter.com/GAihjKhOlN
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) February 25, 2023
After a 15-12 loss to No. 9 Maryland, No. 19 Syracuse men’s lacrosse (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) dropped its second straight, losing to No. 12 North Carolina (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) 19-13. The Orange, which are now 0-2 against ranked opponents, fell victim to problems on faceoffs and ground balls for the second week in a row.
“We couldn’t get the faceoffs or the ground balls,” SU head coach Gary Gait said. “The team didn’t get stops when we needed to and gave (North Carolina) too many opportunities.”
Syracuse went 16-for-36 on faceoffs and captured 22-of-58 ground balls. North Carolina, meanwhile, outshot the Orange 49-42.
“I thought at times we looked tired,” Gait said. “ We played a lot of defense. We have to try to find a way to give those guys some rest so they can be ready when they have to play.”
Despite making 17 saves, SU goalkeeper Will Mark struggled against the UNC offense, allowing a season-high 19 goals.
“I saw goals go in that he hasn’t been letting in,” Gait said of Mark. “There were some good saves but also a tremendous amount of shots. It’s tough for a goalie when he’s seeing 40 to 50 of those.”
Among the bright spots for SU was freshman Joey Spallina. The attacker recorded five points for the Orange with three goals and two assists. Owen Hiltz (five points), Finn Thomson (four), Alex Simmons (three) and Cole Kirst (two) rounded out the ‘Cuse players with multi-goal games.
Conversely, North Carolina was led by attacker Logan McGovern, who registered a game-high eight points. The graduate student was one of three players on the Tar Heels to score a hat trick along with Lance Tillman and Antonio DeMarco.
Defensively, UNC goalkeeper Collin Krieg kept the SU offensive noise low with 11 saves on 42 shots. The sophomore has made ten or more saves in his last nine starts and 25 times overall.
After edging Syracuse 5-4 on goals in the first period, North Carolina outscored the ‘Cuse by five in the second quarter to establish a six-score halftime advantage. The Tar Heels’ seven goals in the second frame of play were the most allowed by SU goalkeeper Will Mark in a period all season.
UNC saw its lead cut down to three in the third quarter thanks to a trio of consecutive SU goals. The third frame was the only period in which the Orange outscored the Tar Heels, finding the back of the net four times to their opposition’s two.
Syracuse is now 1-11 against ranked opponents in the Gary Gait era. The Orange have been outscored in those matchups by a total of 56 goals, losing by an average of nearly five scores per game.
“It’s another opportunity to learn,” Gait said. “The bright side is that we have plenty of solid opponents to play moving forward. We play a tough schedule.”
Syracuse continues its season with No. 14 Duke (4-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) next Sunday. The Blue Devils most recently taking down No. 7 Penn 14-12. Gametime is set for 4 p.m. Tune into WAER starting at 3:30 p.m. for McClurg Team Countdown to Faceoff.