After seven consecutive home games to begin the season, No. 9 Syracuse men’s lacrosse (5-2, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) is on the road for the first time to face No. 2 Johns Hopkins (5-1, 0-0 Big Ten) in Charlotte on Saturday.
SU is coming off a 19-13 victory over High Point last Saturday. Attackman Joey Spallina stole the show with a career-high seven goals after he didn’t score at all against then-5th ranked Army.
Syracuse attacker Joey Spallina blasted a goal past High Point.@Hudson_Ridley was on the mic for the sophomore's pinpoint shot.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) March 2, 2024
🎙️https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P, @waer883 pic.twitter.com/WGs77SRDZ0
Spallina has scored 20 goals in the five games against unranked opponents this season but only netted one in the two games against top-5 opponents, Maryland and Army.
“I think, whether I had a good game or a bad game today, I’m going to wake up tomorrow and I’m going to get back to work. I don’t think one game is going to define you,” said Joey Spallina following last weekend’s win over High Point.
After No. 7 @CuseMLAX took down @HPUMensLax, @swilkes04 and @hudsonridley broke it all down on Orange Overtime Extra.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) March 3, 2024
🥍HPU Comeback Effort
🥍 Hiltz With 3rd Quarter Spark
🥍Spallina Makes Statement
SU returns Saturday against @jhumenslacrosse. Our coverage starts at 6:00. pic.twitter.com/KQZGVjFD6V
Looking ahead to Saturday, Johns Hopkins will be the third top-5 team Syracuse battles with this season. The Blue Jays bounced back from a season-opening defeat to Denver, the current top ranked team in the nation, and have won five in a row since. This marks the third consecutive ACC opponent for Johns Hopkins after wins against then-No. 18 North Carolina and No. 2 Virginia.
“You certainly don’t want to dig yourself a hole. They’re very talented. They’re playing really well right now and we need to start sharp, make some plays and give ourselves a chance,” said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait when asked about handling the momentum Hopkins comes into Saturday with.
In the Blue Jays most recent victory over the Cavaliers, midfielders Johnathan Peshko and Matt Collison scored four goals each. At the other end, goalie Chayse Ierlan finished with a career-high 16 saves and held Virginia to four second half goals.
Syracuse and Johns Hopkins have plenty of history against each other, dating all the way back to 1921. Saturday’s meeting is set to be the 62nd between the two squads. The Blue Jays lead the all time series 32-28-1 and have won the last two. This will be the first time Syracuse and Johns Hopkins square off at a neutral site since 2015 when the Blue Jays prevailed 16-15 in Annapolis.
“I don’t think it changes a whole lot. There’s going to be fans from both sides there. That’s probably going to be the biggest difference, there’s not going to be a home field advantage as far as fans go,” Syracuse head coach Gary Gait explained when asked about Saturday’s game taking place on neutral turf.
Syracuse attempts to snap Johns Hopkins’ five game win streak when the teams meet in Charlotte on Saturday at 6:30. Make sure to tune into WAER at 6 for McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Faceoff.