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The Daily OrangeMLAX | ON TO FOXBOROUGH: No. 3 Syracuse uses late comeback to clinch final 4 berth
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 5/18/08, 8:59 PM EST Section: Sports
ITHACA, N.Y. - For a while, it seemed like the wayward barrage of shots misfired in the first half would come back to haunt Syracuse in its 11-9 win over Notre Dame in the NCAA quarterfinals Sunday afternoon. For a while, it seemed like all those faceoffs won early on would be worthless. For a while, it looked like the rebirth of a powerhouse was coming to an end.
For a while.
No. 3 Syracuse needed one more comeback to save its season, one final push to rectify an overall sloppy game.
And Dan Hardy delivered.
With five minutes left and the score tied, the junior midfielder blasted an over-the-shoulder missile past Notre Dame goalie Joey Kemp in transition and SU slipped by the Fighting Irish in front of 6,121 at Cornell's Schoellkopf Field to claim its place in the final four.
"I saw we had an unsettled situation," Hardy said. "And we like to take advantage when they have fewer guys out there. I tried to go low on him and it went in."
After the strike, the hulking 6-foot-4 Hardy turned toward the shady side of Schoellkopf Field, outstretched his arms and was mobbed by teammates. Steven Brooks added the insurance goal two minutes later, and a heartbreaking upset was effectively sidestepped. The Orange weathered excellent goaltending by Kemp in the first half and a furious run of five Notre Dame unanswered goals in the third quarter to advance to the final four in Foxborough, Mass.
Third-seeded SU (14-2) will face second-seeded Virginia, which knocked off Maryland, 8-7, Saturday. Two years ago the Cavaliers beat the Orange in the semifinals, 17-10.
It was far from easy. Sunday's quarterfinal boiled with frustration. In possibly the best faceoff showdown of the season, the nation's top faceoff man (SU's Danny Brennan) dominated the No. 3 ranked draw man (Notre Dame's Taylor Clagett). Brennan finished 17-of-24.
Gaining possession wasn't a problem. Finishing was. Syracuse assailed Kemp with 30 shots in the first half, but only led 6-2 at halftime.
For a while.
No. 3 Syracuse needed one more comeback to save its season, one final push to rectify an overall sloppy game.
And Dan Hardy delivered.
With five minutes left and the score tied, the junior midfielder blasted an over-the-shoulder missile past Notre Dame goalie Joey Kemp in transition and SU slipped by the Fighting Irish in front of 6,121 at Cornell's Schoellkopf Field to claim its place in the final four.
"I saw we had an unsettled situation," Hardy said. "And we like to take advantage when they have fewer guys out there. I tried to go low on him and it went in."
After the strike, the hulking 6-foot-4 Hardy turned toward the shady side of Schoellkopf Field, outstretched his arms and was mobbed by teammates. Steven Brooks added the insurance goal two minutes later, and a heartbreaking upset was effectively sidestepped. The Orange weathered excellent goaltending by Kemp in the first half and a furious run of five Notre Dame unanswered goals in the third quarter to advance to the final four in Foxborough, Mass.
Third-seeded SU (14-2) will face second-seeded Virginia, which knocked off Maryland, 8-7, Saturday. Two years ago the Cavaliers beat the Orange in the semifinals, 17-10.
It was far from easy. Sunday's quarterfinal boiled with frustration. In possibly the best faceoff showdown of the season, the nation's top faceoff man (SU's Danny Brennan) dominated the No. 3 ranked draw man (Notre Dame's Taylor Clagett). Brennan finished 17-of-24.
Gaining possession wasn't a problem. Finishing was. Syracuse assailed Kemp with 30 shots in the first half, but only led 6-2 at halftime.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Capt. grammar
posted 5/19/08 @ 8:26 AM EST
"You got to keep thinking that if you keep taking those types of shots, eventually their going to drop,"
Between that, and 6 million unneccesary commas, the DO better hire some editors, quick, and find someone, other than incoming freshman, to write the articles, lest its reputation, as a premier college paper, goes the way, of our football team. (Continued…)
The Man
posted 5/22/08 @ 12:06 PM EST
Captain Grammar,
You must be blind. The DO did not write that quotation. That's what the coach said. It's a direct quote. Get some glasses.
~ The Man
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