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The Daily OrangeMLAX | BUILDING STEAM: Orange could be No. 1 after 5th straight win
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 3/30/08, 11:53 PM EST Section: Sports
Cooper MacDonnell and his four goals kept things close for the Greyhounds (4-4), but Miller's goal in the third gave the Orange a 6-5 lead, one that would only widen. The midfield trio made sure of that.
Senior attack Mike Leveille did what he does: three goals and two assists. But that's expected. Who will step up in the midfield is less of a constant?
Against Georgetown, it was Loftus dropping four goals in the double overtime win. Against Johns Hopkins, fifth-year senior Brooks scored four as well, including the winner in OT.
On Saturday, it was Hardy, Perritt and Miller's turn.
Down 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, each player found the back of the net to help Syracuse take a 6-5 lead midway through the third. They slogged through the grind of Loyola's slow-paced, long-winded offensive approach, which made each offensive possession precious.
Then, with the lead trimmed to 10-8, Perritt scored twice and Hardy once to put the game too far away for the Greyhounds to grasp. The first score was set up by a gorgeous pass from Miller that slipped through two defenders. Perritt, sneaky and jitterbug quick, finished the play with ease, something he had struggled to do earlier this year.
Perritt scored more goals Saturday (3) than he had in SU's first seven games (2).
"The shots were dropping today…and I look forward to the rest of the season," Perritt said. "Hopefully I continue to improve."
Hardy used his heavy shot and 6-foot-4 size to pick up his three goals, including a blast from 15 yards out in the first half. His size makes him a target for opposing coaches - he usually draws a long-pole midfielder to defend him, an alignment that frees up high-energy players like Perritt and Miller.
"I just want to add energy to this team," Miller said. "Regardless of it's a ground ball or anything like that."
As the feeling out process draws to a close, that only means more depth for Desko - and less need for labels.
"We're fortunate to have some returning midfielders that can keep us five or six deep," Desko said. "And then we've got some younger guys that are going right along and getting more experience every game."
ramccull@syr.edu
Senior attack Mike Leveille did what he does: three goals and two assists. But that's expected. Who will step up in the midfield is less of a constant?
Against Georgetown, it was Loftus dropping four goals in the double overtime win. Against Johns Hopkins, fifth-year senior Brooks scored four as well, including the winner in OT.
On Saturday, it was Hardy, Perritt and Miller's turn.
Down 2-0 at the end of the first quarter, each player found the back of the net to help Syracuse take a 6-5 lead midway through the third. They slogged through the grind of Loyola's slow-paced, long-winded offensive approach, which made each offensive possession precious.
Then, with the lead trimmed to 10-8, Perritt scored twice and Hardy once to put the game too far away for the Greyhounds to grasp. The first score was set up by a gorgeous pass from Miller that slipped through two defenders. Perritt, sneaky and jitterbug quick, finished the play with ease, something he had struggled to do earlier this year.
Perritt scored more goals Saturday (3) than he had in SU's first seven games (2).
"The shots were dropping today…and I look forward to the rest of the season," Perritt said. "Hopefully I continue to improve."
Hardy used his heavy shot and 6-foot-4 size to pick up his three goals, including a blast from 15 yards out in the first half. His size makes him a target for opposing coaches - he usually draws a long-pole midfielder to defend him, an alignment that frees up high-energy players like Perritt and Miller.
"I just want to add energy to this team," Miller said. "Regardless of it's a ground ball or anything like that."
As the feeling out process draws to a close, that only means more depth for Desko - and less need for labels.
"We're fortunate to have some returning midfielders that can keep us five or six deep," Desko said. "And then we've got some younger guys that are going right along and getting more experience every game."
ramccull@syr.edu
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