Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMLAX | Petit shines in net, but SU's Galloway has last laugh
By John Clayton
Posted: 5/24/08, 6:30 PM EST Section: Sports
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Moments earlier, Syracuse's Mike Leveille had flicked his 12-yard shot past Petit to send SU into the NCAA championship game with a 12-11 double-overtime win.
As orange jerseys cavorted around the field in jubilation, the solemn Cavalier procession in white continued toward Petit, whose acrobatics in net had frustrated SU's potent offense all game.
Some teammates patted the fifth-year senior on the helmet, while others offered words of consolation. None were able to rouse Petit from his pose - he remained glued to the turf for upwards of a minute after the game ended.
"I just don't think I could have got up," an emotional Petit said afterwards. "…It was so hard to handle to try and walk right off that field. I gave everything I could today, and unfortunately we couldn't pull it out."
It was an exceedingly cruel ending for Petit, who put forth a career effort in his final collegiate contest. He outdueled Syracuse freshman goalie John Galloway, who let in several soft goals before settling in late and making some clutch saves.
Yet despite Petit's 16 saves - including several in the fourth quarter and overtime that temporarily extended the contest - it was the Cavalier keeper on the ground afterward and Galloway celebrating.
"He played lights out," Galloway said of Petit. "He was making save after save with his feet, with his stick, whatever he could get on it. I definitely got outplayed in the goal today."
Petit is an unlikely candidate to be playing a starring role on college lacrosse's biggest stage. He wasn't even the Cavaliers' starter until April. That title belonged to freshman Adam Ghitelman, the No. 1 goalie recruit in the country coming into the season.
But when Ghitelman's struggles became too acute before Virginia's April 5 contest at North Carolina, Virginia head coach Dom Starsia made the switch. It was Petit's first start in four years.
The results? Petit was a revelation, leading UVa to a 4-2 record down the stretch (two losses both coming against No. 1 Duke). He was clutch in the Cavaliers' two NCAA tournament wins, making game-saving stops down in the final minute of both matchups.
Petit was as good, if not better, throughout the entire game Saturday. He made seven first-half saves to hold the Orange to three goals before the break.
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