Slow Start Stifles No. 7 Men’s Lacrosse

Friday, February 27

Princeton, N.J.

4 p.m.

Syracuse University

3-2

Princeton

2-1

Syracuse

Princeton

2/27/2026 7:20:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Highlights Postgame Press Conference

PRINCETON, N.J. – A scoreless first quarter and a slow start to the second proved too much to overcome as No.7/No. 6 Syracuse fell to No. 10/No. 7 Princeton, 11-7, Friday afternoon at Sherrerd Field at Class of 1952 Stadium as part of the ACC/Ivy Challenge.

The loss drops the Orange to 3-2 on the season, their second consecutive defeat after falling at Harvard a week ago. Princeton jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead before Syracuse found its footing, and despite a spirited second-half push, the Orange could never get closer than four goals in the final 30 minutes.

How it Happened

Princeton controlled the opening quarter from start to finish, outscoring the Orange 5-0. Peter Buonanno got the Tigers on the board at the 12:33 mark before Parker Reynolds, Andrew McMeekin, John Dunphey, and Chad Palumbo added goals to close out the stanza. Syracuse was outshot 15-5 in the quarter.
The deficit grew to 6-0 early in the second when Princeton's Tucker Wade tallied on the first possession of the quarter.
Syracuse finally broke through on back-to-back man-up goals as Luke Rhoa and Finn Thomson each converted on the extra-man opportunity, with Michael Leo tallying a pair of assists on both scores.RhoaSyracuse finally broke through on back-to-back man-up goals as Luke
Princeton answered with goals from Nate Kabiri and Wade to push the lead back to six, before Matt McIntee and Payton Anderson scored in the final moments to make it 8-4 at the half.
The third quarter belonged to Princeton once again early on, as Kabiri found the back of the net to extend the lead to 9-4. Anderson responded for the Orange to make it 9-5, the lone 'Cuse score of the period.
Princeton put the game out of reach with back-to-back goals from Quinn Krammer and Reynolds in the opening four minutes of the fourth, extending the advantage to 11-5. Thomson and Leo each scored in the final five minutes to account for the 11-7 final.

Behind the Numbers

Thomson and Anderson each finished with two goals to lead the Orange offense. Leo paced 'Cuse with four points on one goal and three assists.
Rhoa added a goal while McIntee also scored, as Syracuse spread its offense among five different scorers.
Jimmy McCool made 17 saves in goal for the Orange in a complete game.
Syracuse went 2-for-2 on the man-up opportunity in the second quarter but was held scoreless on its remaining three extra-man chances. Princeton finished 0-for-5 on the power play.
The Orange were outshot 52-40 and lost the ground ball battle 32-22. Princeton also held a 12-10 edge in faceoffs, with John Mullen going 6-for-16 and Drew Angelo 4-for-6 at the X for Syracuse.
With the loss, Syracuse falls to 22-10 all-time against Princeton. The Orange had won six straight in the series prior to today.

Up Next for Syracuse

Syracuse returns to action Sunday as the ACC/Ivy Challenge continues with a noon matchup against No. 19 Penn at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
Sunday's game will stream on ESPN+, with Syracuse Sports Network carrying the game on radio at TK99/105 and online at Cuse.tv.