After a heartbreaking loss over the weekend, No. 6 @CuseMLAX rebounded to top @UtahLacrosse 18-7.@Austin_Barach and @Hudson_Ridley had the call. pic.twitter.com/PmwNYoerA8
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) February 21, 2024
No. 6 Syracuse men’s lacrosse (4-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated Utah (0-3, 0-0 Pacific-12 Conference) 18-7 on Wednesday afternoon. After a tough one-point loss in overtime on Saturday, head coach Gary Gait’s squad bounced back.
The Orange didn’t get going right away. The game was tied 2-2 almost midway through the first quarter, but the ‘Cuse went on a 5-1 run to round out the opening frame.
“I think we have all the tools to be extremely successful,” said goaltender Will Mark following SU’s win. “Sometimes it takes a little slap in the face to get going.”
Mark made a season-high 14 saves. The graduate student hasn’t made more than 14 stops since he recorded 15 against Virginia towards the end of last year. Mark had a .700 save percentage in Wednesday’s contest, his first since SU’s win over Hobart last season.
Mark hasn’t had to control the same volume of shots he did last year, thanks to faceoff specialist Mason Kohn. The San Diego native went 14-18 at the faceoff X in Wednesday’s victory.
“When you get nine straight faceoff wins, that’s pretty good,” said Gait during the postgame press conference. “He covered some of our turnovers. In that first half we had a bunch of turnovers on the offensive end of the field. When you get the ball back on every faceoff, it helps you makeup for some of those turnovers. It’s been a treat so far this year. I look forward to watching him continue as we increase the competition.”
Syracuse held Utah scoreless in the second and third quarters.
The ‘Cuse has only played five games, but Kohn has been a major upgrade over last season’s faceoff specialist Johnny Richiusa. In the first five contests last year, Richiusa won 43% of the faceoffs. Through the same amount to start 2024, Kohn has picked up 69% of the faceoffs.
On the offensive end, attackman Joey Spallina continues to perform well. The sophomore netted three goals and four assists in the afternoon.
“He’s producing,” said Coach Gait. “When you have a target on your back, it makes it much tougher. I think Joey stepped up and he’s getting opportunities and he continues to create them for other people as well. As the competition gets tougher and we get into those top-10 opponents, it’s going to be fun to watch.”
One of those top-tier teams visits the Dome next week. No. 6 Syracuse welcomes No. 7 Army on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. The Orange have dropped the last two matchups against the Black Knights. WAER’s coverage of McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Face-off starts at 5:30 p.m.