Sunday, May 10
Syracuse, N.Y.
5 p.m.
Syracuse University
12-5
16
vs
15
Yale
9-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| Syracuse | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
'Cuse Powers Past Yale for Third-Straight Quarters Appearance
5/10/2026 7:33:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
A Mother's Day thriller is something Syracuse lacrosse fans have come to count on to start NCAA Tournament play, and the 2026 iteration provided yet another classic in the JMA Wireless Dome.
In a game that featured eight ties and five lead changes, it wasn't until Jimmy McCool's two crucial saves with 16 seconds left that the 4,341 fans in the Loud House could relax – as sixth-seeded (No. 7) Syracuse advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal for the third-straight season with a 16-15 win over No. 12 Yale
McCool made 17 saves in the victory, John Mullen was 21-of-33 on faceoffs and matched his career-high with 18 ground balls, and a balanced offensive attack with nine different scorers powered the Orange to advance.
Michael Leo and Finn Thomson led the way with hat tricks, Thomson added a pair of assists to lead all point-getters with five. Joey Spallina, Wyatt Hottle and Luke Rhoa each tallied two goals apiece.
Mullen took the opening faceoff and scored just six seconds into the game to give Syracuse an early advantage. On the ensuing possession, Hottle scored his 18th goal of the season to give 'Cuse a 2-0 lead.
The Orange hat two chances to open a four-goal lead, but both ricocheted off the pipes. Yale took advantage as Luke Pascal and Cole Jackson scored back-to-back goals to know things again with 6:11 left in the opening period. Payton Anderson netted one more in the frame, off a feed from Finn Thomson, to give the Orange a 3-2 lead after one.
Â
Yale's Cole Cashion scored less than 90 seconds into the second, but back-to-back goals from Rhoa and Leo – who was fed by Rhoa – pushed 'Cuse back to a two-goal advantage.
Then, a four-goal run to end the half by Yale tipped the advantage the Eli's way. Jackson, Peter Moynihan (twice) and Patrick Pisano all found the back of the net in a span of 4:17 to end the half with an 8-7 lead.
Leo opened the second-half scoring on a pass from Anderson, then McCool came up big on the other end, with two crucial saves, before Syracuse evened the scoring and took the lead on their next two possessions.
Thomson was the beneficiary of great passing on each. First, Spallina was patient behind the cage before feeding a cutting Thomson to knot things at eight with 11:33 left in the third. Â 'Cuse took the lead back less than a minute later on an unbelievable assist from Anderson. While falling down after collecting a contested ground ball, Anderson found Thomson on the crease who buried the go-ahead goal.
Â
The scoring pace picked up rapidly with seven goals in the final 4:51 of the third quarter. Pascal and Dylan Blekicki netted a pair of goals separated by 30 seconds to give the Eli's the lead back, before Thomson scored his third of the day on a feed from Michael Leo. Leo then did his own damage to pot one and put 'Cuse back up 11-10. The lead only lasted for 49 seconds though, as William Sheehan scored for Yale to tie the game once again. Spallina retook the lead with a man-up goal and Tyler McCarthy pushed it to two just 12 seconds later. Yale won the ensuing faceoff and had two scoring chances in the waning seconds, but McCool stood tall on each, sending the Orange to the fourth leading 13-11.
Cashion opened the fourth quarter's scoring for Yale, but Rhoa answered back with a high bouncer that snuck into the top-right corner.
Another doorstep save from McCool gave Syracuse the chance to push the lead to three and Hottle delivered. He finished a feed from Rhoa to give Syracuse a 15-12 lead with 10:02 to go in regulation.
Spallina pushed the lead to 16-12 four minutes later, finishing a feed from Anderson. The assist was Anderson's third of the day, setting a new career high.
Yale didn't go quietly though. Sean Grogan pulled them back to within three with 5:39 remaining, before Blekicki made it a two-goal affair with 1:45 left. Grogan answered again just 28 ticks later and Yale won the ensuing faceoff, but two key saves from McCool and a clear sent Syracuse running to the next round.
The Orange will face No. 3 seed North Carolina on Saturday, May 16 at Hofstra. It'll be the third matchup of the season between the two ACC foes.
Â
In a game that featured eight ties and five lead changes, it wasn't until Jimmy McCool's two crucial saves with 16 seconds left that the 4,341 fans in the Loud House could relax – as sixth-seeded (No. 7) Syracuse advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal for the third-straight season with a 16-15 win over No. 12 Yale
McCool made 17 saves in the victory, John Mullen was 21-of-33 on faceoffs and matched his career-high with 18 ground balls, and a balanced offensive attack with nine different scorers powered the Orange to advance.
Michael Leo and Finn Thomson led the way with hat tricks, Thomson added a pair of assists to lead all point-getters with five. Joey Spallina, Wyatt Hottle and Luke Rhoa each tallied two goals apiece.
Mullen took the opening faceoff and scored just six seconds into the game to give Syracuse an early advantage. On the ensuing possession, Hottle scored his 18th goal of the season to give 'Cuse a 2-0 lead.
The Orange hat two chances to open a four-goal lead, but both ricocheted off the pipes. Yale took advantage as Luke Pascal and Cole Jackson scored back-to-back goals to know things again with 6:11 left in the opening period. Payton Anderson netted one more in the frame, off a feed from Finn Thomson, to give the Orange a 3-2 lead after one.
Â
The Dome Crowd loves it.
— Syracuse Men's Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) May 10, 2026
📺 @ESPNU
💻 https://t.co/ciR9shIrmD
📻 @TKClassicRock
🔊 https://t.co/cZmKQmxPpk
📊 https://t.co/UhUo5SrQwn#HHH x #LikeNoOther pic.twitter.com/AXhTL1RYMH
Yale's Cole Cashion scored less than 90 seconds into the second, but back-to-back goals from Rhoa and Leo – who was fed by Rhoa – pushed 'Cuse back to a two-goal advantage.
Then, a four-goal run to end the half by Yale tipped the advantage the Eli's way. Jackson, Peter Moynihan (twice) and Patrick Pisano all found the back of the net in a span of 4:17 to end the half with an 8-7 lead.
Leo opened the second-half scoring on a pass from Anderson, then McCool came up big on the other end, with two crucial saves, before Syracuse evened the scoring and took the lead on their next two possessions.
Thomson was the beneficiary of great passing on each. First, Spallina was patient behind the cage before feeding a cutting Thomson to knot things at eight with 11:33 left in the third. Â 'Cuse took the lead back less than a minute later on an unbelievable assist from Anderson. While falling down after collecting a contested ground ball, Anderson found Thomson on the crease who buried the go-ahead goal.
Â
Exactly how they drew it up.
— Syracuse Men's Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) May 10, 2026
📺 @ESPNU
💻 https://t.co/ciR9shIrmD
📻 @TKClassicRock
🔊 https://t.co/cZmKQmxPpk
📊 https://t.co/UhUo5SrQwn#HHH x #LikeNoOther pic.twitter.com/rIfS85lLiz
The scoring pace picked up rapidly with seven goals in the final 4:51 of the third quarter. Pascal and Dylan Blekicki netted a pair of goals separated by 30 seconds to give the Eli's the lead back, before Thomson scored his third of the day on a feed from Michael Leo. Leo then did his own damage to pot one and put 'Cuse back up 11-10. The lead only lasted for 49 seconds though, as William Sheehan scored for Yale to tie the game once again. Spallina retook the lead with a man-up goal and Tyler McCarthy pushed it to two just 12 seconds later. Yale won the ensuing faceoff and had two scoring chances in the waning seconds, but McCool stood tall on each, sending the Orange to the fourth leading 13-11.
Cashion opened the fourth quarter's scoring for Yale, but Rhoa answered back with a high bouncer that snuck into the top-right corner.
Another doorstep save from McCool gave Syracuse the chance to push the lead to three and Hottle delivered. He finished a feed from Rhoa to give Syracuse a 15-12 lead with 10:02 to go in regulation.
Spallina pushed the lead to 16-12 four minutes later, finishing a feed from Anderson. The assist was Anderson's third of the day, setting a new career high.
Yale didn't go quietly though. Sean Grogan pulled them back to within three with 5:39 remaining, before Blekicki made it a two-goal affair with 1:45 left. Grogan answered again just 28 ticks later and Yale won the ensuing faceoff, but two key saves from McCool and a clear sent Syracuse running to the next round.
The Orange will face No. 3 seed North Carolina on Saturday, May 16 at Hofstra. It'll be the third matchup of the season between the two ACC foes.
Â
Team Stats
YALE
SYRACUSE
Shots
48
43
Turnovers
8
12
Caused Turnovers
7
4
Faceoffs Won
14
21
Extra-Man Opps
2
2
Ground Balls
33
43
Game Leaders
G
3
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
Players Mentioned
A/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrossePostgame Press Conference | Syracuse vs. Yale
Monday, May 11
Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Postgame Presser
Sunday, May 10
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Yale
Sunday, May 10
Men's Lacrosse Media Availability | May 8, 2026
Friday, May 08
