Slow start dooms lacrosse against No. 2 Notre Dame

For the first time since 2007, the Syracuse University Men’s Lacrosse team has lost three straight games. This 17-7 loss was their worst since March 23, 2014, when they lost 21-7 to No. 3 Duke.

The Fighting Irish were up 2-0 only four minutes into the game, and they were playing so well that Syracuse did not even have a shot on goal at that point. Midfield senior Tim Barber scored his 14th goal of the season 9:19 into the first quarter, cutting Notre Dame’s lead to 2-1. However, Notre Dame would respond with two quick goals and end the first frame up 5-2. By the half, the Fighting Irish would be dominating at the Carrier Dome by a score of 9-4. Attack Matt Cavanagh led the way, scoring a hat trick before half the match was over. He now has 10 goals on the season. Six other Notre Dame players scored before the half.  

“I’m very disappointed, I thought we had a good week at practice,” Orange head coach John Desko said following the loss. “I thought how easily they scored without us sliding, without us communicating, was very disappointing. We could’ve done better offensively as far as finishing and limiting our turnovers. For us mentally, something was wrong today.”

Syracuse looked to come back after a halftime that featured nearly 200 former Orange lacrosse players who walked onto the field and took a group picture. Two quick goals by midfield junior Jordan Evans cut the Irish lead to 9-6, however Notre Dame subsequently scored three straight goals. Evans would later complete the hat trick in the 3rd, however the Orange would close out the quarter down 14-7. Three more tallies were padded on by Notre Dame in the final quarter, topping off its 17-7 demolition of the Orange.

Senior goaltender Warren Hill only made four saves on 18 shots on goal in the game. The .222 save percentage was the worst he’s recorded all season; it dropped his average save percentage to .426 for the season. Early in the 4th quarter, he was pulled and Evan Molloy was put between the pipes. The redshirt junior stopped five shots on eight attempts.

Redshirt-senior attack Dylan Donahue recorded his 200th point in the loss. When the redshirt senior was asked if he could take anything away from that, a very straightforward “No” answer was given as he, Evans, and coach Desko walked away from the media podium, visibly upset with their performance.

The Orange play its next game in Geneva, New York, as it takes on the Hobart Statesmen at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.