No. 7/6 Syracuse Knocks Off No. 4/4 Virginia

Saturday, April 20

Syracuse, N.Y.

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

11-4, 3-1

Virginia

10-3, 1-2

Virginia

Syracuse

4/20/2024 5:15:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Tickets Highlights Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

The Orange Outlast the Cavaliers In A Wild Finish

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A wild finish with a combined 35 goals saw the No. 7/6 Syracuse men's lacrosse team grab its third top-five victory of the season as the Orange toppled No. 4/4 Virginia, 18-17, on Saturday afternoon in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Owen Hiltz led all Syracuse (11-4, 3-1 ACC) performers with three goals and five assists for eight points. Two other Orange performers contributed hat tricks in the outing: Christian Mulé and Finn Thomson. Jake Stevens (2g, 2a), Michael Leo (2g, 1a) and Sam English (1g, 2a) were the other 'Cuse players who produced multi-point performances.

The Virginia attack unit controlled the offense for the Cavaliers (10-3, 1-2). Connor Shellenberger led the way with a game high nine points on four goals and five assists. Payton Cormier (4g, 1a) and McCabe Millon (3g, 2a) each added five points in the contest.

Will Mark was a difference maker in the net, stopping 15 shots for the third time in the last four games. Matthew Nunes matched Mark's mark with 15 saves for the Cavaliers.

The Orange got the best of Virginia at the X, winning 21-of-39 faceoffs in the affair. Mason Kohn finished 14-of-25 on faceoff wins and John Mullen grabbed seven of his 14 attempts.

Syracuse men's lacrosse legend Paul Gait was honored at halftime of today's game. Gait was presented a framed jersey by Director of Athletics John Wildhack and his jersey number, 19, was lifted into the rafters at the Dome. His name now hangs beside his twin brother and current SU men's lacrosse head coach Gary Gait and Michael Powell's 22 jersey.

How It Happened

Cormier and Shellenberger netted the first two goals to give the 'Hoos a 2-0 advantage 5:22 into the game.
Mulé finished a feed from Leo at the 8:32-mark to put the Orange on the board. The Cavaliers responded with goals from Cormier and Ben Wayer to go ahead, 4-1, with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter.
From 4:08 in the first period to 10:57 in the second quarter, Syracuse scored six unanswered goals. Hiltz started and capped off the rally. Wyatt Hottle, Luke Rhoa, Leo and Mulé each contributed a goal during the run.
Virginia's Griffin Schultz halted the 'Cuse rally with a solo goal. Leo followed that up by netting a dish from Hiltz on an extra-man opportunity.
Millon and Cormier netted back-to-back goals for the Cavaliers to cut their deficit to one, 8-7, with 6:40 to go before halftime.
Matt Wright got his first goal of the season off a feed from Hiltz. Shellenberger scored consecutive goals to end the first half and the squads went into the intermission with the score tied, 9-9.
Virginia opened the second half scoring as Millon bagged a solo goal. The Orange scored the next four to go in front, 13-10, with 8:50 left in the third quarter. During the run, Thomson scored two while Hiltz and Stevens each netted one.
The Cavaliers rattled off three straight to knot the score at 13-13 at the 14:37-mark in the fourth quarter. Millon, Joey Terenzi and Cormier each contributed goals to the run.
After Mulé netted his third of the game, the 'Hoos scored four in a row. Ryan Colsey contributed two during the stretch while Will Cory and Shellenberger each added one. Following the run, Virginia claimed a 17-14 lead with 9:18 left on the clock.
The Orange scored four unanswered goals in the final 7:30 of the contest to earn the victory. Stevens and Thomson each got one to come within one of Virginia, 17-16, with 5:19 left.
Billy Dwan shoveled a shot over his back that got past the keeper and tied up the score with 1:44 remaining in the game. With 48 seconds on the clock, Sam English found a hole in the defense, cut to the crease, and tossed in the game-winning goal.

Behind The Numbers

Orange fans flocked to the Dome. The attendance number of 8,348 was the second-most across the NCAA for a men's lacrosse game this season and best attendance number for Syracuse this year.
The six-goal run spanning from the first quarter into the second quarter was the eighth occasion this season that the Orange scored six-or-more consecutive goals in a game.
Hiltz tied his career-best effort with five assists and totaled a season-high eight points in the outing.
Stevens equaled his season-best in points with four on two goals and two assists.
Riley Figueras forced three opponent turnovers, which tied his career-high in caused turnovers.
The Orange converted two extra-man opportunities into goals of the three chances they had in the game.

Up Next
The Orange now await their destiny in the ACC Championships. The semifinal round begins on Friday, May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Tickets for the upcoming ACC Tournament can be found here.