Syracuse University
3-2, 0-1ACC
North Carolina
3-1, 1-0ACC
Comeback Falls Short in ACC Opener
2/25/2023 5:25:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A late third-quarter surge for the No. 18/No. 19 Syracuse men's lacrosse team fell short in the ACC opener for the Orange. Syracuse lost 19-13 in a back-and-forth battle against No. 16/No. 12 North Carolina Saturday afternoon.
Syracuse (3-2, 0-1 ACC) was paced by five points each from Joey Spallina (3g, 2a) and Owen Hiltz (2g, 3a). Will Mark made 17 saves in net for the Orange. Alex Simmons contributed three points as well, while Johnny Richiusa won 15 faceoffs for a season second-best.
UNC (3-1, 1-0 ACC) was led by Logan McGovern, who finished with eight points on four goals and four assists. Lance Tillman scored three goals with one assist.
Syracuse continues its home stand next weekend with a matchup against No. 10 Duke. Game time is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 5 on ACC Network Extra. Tickets can be found at cuse.com/ticketing
How it Happened
- Syracuse struck first as Hiltz buried his seventh of the year, getting a feed from his linemate, Simmons. The Tar Heels scored three unanswered goals from Henry Schertzinger, Harry Wellford, and James Matan.
- The Orange responded with a three-goal run of their own, first from Cole Kirst, followed by Spallina and Simmons. Finn Thomson assisted on the Spallina and Simmons tallies, both on the man-up.
- Carolina scored twice more in the first, taking a 5-4 lead after 15 minutes. DeMarco and Tillman scored to finish the frame.
- It was another power play goal from the Orange as Jackson Birtwistle was wide open on the doorstep, allowing Hiltz to zip a feed inside for a 5-5 game.
- UNC took control, reeling off four straight goals. McGovern, Sean Goldsmith, Schertzinger again and Matt Wright put the visitors up 9-5 midway through the second quarter.
- Griffin Cook accounted for the lone 'Cuse goal in the remainder of the second quarter. After cutting down the middle, opting for a low behind-the-back nearly one-handed goal to finish a feed from Spallina.
- Carolina scored three more times in the final three minutes, Goldsmith, McGovern, and DeMarco in succession, to take a 12-6 lead at the break. The Tar Heels picked up the first goal of the second half, but the Orange strung together four straight to pull back within striking distance. Luke Rhoa, Kirst, Simmons, and Spallina all in a row. Simmons drew a check to the head on his cutting goal, setting up the man-up and Spallina's goal, which came after dizzying around-the-horn passing from the man-up unit.
- UNC scored with 82 seconds left in the quarter to halt the run and make it a 14-10 game with 15 minutes to play. The Tar Heels carried the run into the fourth, striking twice in the first five minutes of the period from McGovern and Schwarz, regaining a six-goal lead at 16-10.
- The Orange man-up unit continued to hum as Thomson buried one inside on a Hiltz feed, but the Tar Heels scored three of the game's next four goals to seal the 19-13 decision.
- Syracuse got 17 saves from Mark, his second-straight outing with at least 15 stops.
- Already boasting one of the best man-up percentages in the country, Syracuse scored nearly half of its goals on the power play, marking five of the 10 chances for goals. Spallina contributed two of his three goals on the man-up.
- Johnny Richiusa won 16 of the games 35 faceoffs while grabbing two ground balls. Eight different Orange players tallied caused turnovers.
- The second quarter was the difference maker as the Tar Heels out-scored the Orange 7-2 in that period. The second half was an even 7-7 game and the first quarter was a one-goal difference.
- Syracuse did a solid job shooting around Carolina's net minder, scoring on 13 of the 25 shots the Orange put on cage.
- The Orange continue both ACC action and a three-game homestand on Sunday, March 5.
- Syracuse hosts No. 10 Duke at 4 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
- The Orange will don 15 For Life Foundation shirts for warmups to bring awareness to mental health.
