Men’s lacrosse grinds out second-half comeback for massive win in defensive showdown
Men’s lacrosse grinds out second-half comeback
In a game defined by the solid defensive performances of both teams, Syracuse willfully took control of the second half to mount and complete a significant comeback to win the game 9-7.
The foundation of this comeback was built off of the standout performances by Syracuse goalie Drake Porter and midfielder Jamie Trimboli. Porter ended the game with a total of 18 saves and Trimboli scored five of the team’s nine goals.
Playing a ranked opponent for the first time this season, No. 7 Army was the first big test of the 2020 season for Syracuse. With a 2-0 record and an average of nineteen goals per game, Syracuse was ranked No. 5 coming into this matchup.
A notable absence for the Orange was All-American defender Nick Mellen, who also missed last week’s convincing victory against Binghamton with a leg injury. Despite this absence, Porter and the defensive trio of Grant Murphy, Nick DiPietro, and Brett Kennedy rose to the occasion and were able to successfully stifle the Army offense.
Despite a solid defensive performance, Syracuse saw little opportunity in front of goal throughout the first half. SU’s offense had been in full motion against Binghamton and Colgate in the previous weeks, but the Black Knights proved to be a much tougher opponent. Consequently, the Orange recorded a mere 6 shots in the first quarter, most of which missed high or wide.
At halftime, Syracuse faced a three-goal deficit trailing 2-5. Although they were losing, the Syracuse players never doubted their ability to win the game.
“The defense really played well in front of me and was able to help me make those saves and then we knew the offense would heat up, so we weren’t too afraid,” Porter said after the game.
Syracuse wasted no time in the third quarter, coming out of the gate and scoring within thirty seconds after the faceoff. Trimboli lit up the second half, scoring three straight goals within the third quarter to level the score to 5-5.
With 90 seconds left in the quarter, Army’s Miles Silva scored his second goal of the game, retaking the lead for the Black Knights.
Syracuse fans roared their team on as the final fifteen-minute period again, urging the Orange to further the momentum that was built in the third quarter.
Despite conceding a goal in the first 45 seconds and going down 5-7, SU energetically bounced back in the following minutes. With nine minutes to go, the Orange increased pressure and scored twice within the span of 40 seconds, sending the Dome into a state of pandemonium.
Syracuse’s Tucker Dordevic tries to get around Army’s Matthew Horace.
Army’s Kyle Beyer and Syracuse’s Brett Barlow fight for a loose ball.
As the clock wound down, Syracuse maintained a high level of intensity and pushed forward for the win. Trimboli scored his fifth goal of the game with less than six minutes to go, giving SU the lead for the first time throughout the entire game. One minute later, the win was sealed when Brendan Curry, who also had two assists, scored to make it 9-7 in favor of Syracuse.
The character shown by SU in the fourth quarter revealed the resilience of this roster. “We really had to work hard to win this game, and I think that only helps us going forward,” Coach Desko said after the game.
Army is the third highest-ranked opponent on the current schedule for Syracuse, with only the University of Virginia (No. 2) and Notre Dame (No. 6) ranked higher. With this massive victory today, Syracuse men’s lacrosse has cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season.
is a contributor to The NewsHouse and studying at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
is a multimedia, photography and design graduate student and visuals lead producer for The NewsHouse.
