In it's first NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal since 2017, No. 4 @CuseMLAX couldn't play consistent offense which resulted in a loss to No. 5 Denver.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) May 19, 2024
WAER's @AndrewSelover and @IanNicholasTV had the call of SU's downfall in Towson. pic.twitter.com/7KXTQ8tUMY
After an offensive outburst of 20 goals a week ago against Towson, four-seed Syracuse men’s lacrosse (12-6, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) was held to single digit scores in a 10-8 loss to five-seed Denver (13-3, 5-0 Big East Conference). The defeat marks the end of the season for the Orange who won their first NCAA tournament game since 2017.
“Next year, we are just going to play and next year we will be on top, for sure,” said SU attackman Michael Leo.
The Orange did not “just play” out of the gate against the Pioneers, largely in part to DU’s suffocating defense. The first 30 minutes saw just 7 goals for both squads combined while each team turned the ball over 7+ times.
“They just had so many trail checks and so many hustle plays, " said SU head coach Gary Gait. “We won the stats for faceoffs but I think we turned it over two or three times and it was just hustle plays. They came out on fire and they made plays, they were gritty, they were tough, [and] physical.”
Denver's physicality would eventually pay off in a 5-0 scoring run that started with Ty Hussey’s goal at the end of the second quarter. This same stretch saw Syracuse go on a drought lasting over 30 minutes from the second to third quarter.
“I think that all it takes is one to get a little energy, a little momentum,” Gary Gait said. “Then we hit some pipes, miss some nets with no backup and we just didn't. We had a wide open shot with the goalie looking, facing the other way and we missed the net with no backup. It was tough luck for us today.”
However, not all hope was lost because just as one goal flipped the switch for the Pios, a Jake Stevens fireball turned the tables in SU’s favor.
The Orange continue to fight back.@IanNicholasTV had the call for midfielder Jake Stevens' second-half score.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) May 19, 2024
🎙️https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P, @waer883 pic.twitter.com/Pi35L6WxtM
Over the final 20 minutes of game time, SU outscored DU 5-2 and shut down Denver in the fourth quarter. Syracuse Goalie Will Mark only had one save during the frame and that was because the Pioneers only put one shot on goal. The ‘Cuse forced 8 turnovers in the fourth period and held Denver scoreless.
Despite Syracuse making it a three goal game with eight and a half minutes remaining, Denver stretched out the clock as much as possible, wasting five minutes on just four possessions.
The Orange’s season officially comes to an end, but Coach Gait expressed his pride for his young squad.
“I'm just incredibly proud of their effort and where they've taken the program. From an 8-7 year to a 12-6 year. 12 wins over some of the best teams in the country. Now we just have to go out and create some consistency. What I hope these guys take away is they learn from this to have success in lacrosse and in life you're going to lose, and if you learn from it you can come back and do better the next time and that's how you develop the ability to win games.”