The Daily OrangeMLAX | NOT ENOUGH: Late-game surge not enough as Syracuse falls to Virginia
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 2/27/09, 11:32 PM EST Section: Sports
In the third quarter, the game was over.
Syracuse trailed Virginia by four goals, and couldn't get on track, couldn't find a rhythm. Shots sailed wide. Passes scooted out-of-bounds. Most everything looked bleak.
But the Orange rebounded, outscoring the Cavaliers by three goals in the fourth, leaving them down one goal with one minute to play.
"We saw our confidence back as we started to score goals," Syracuse head coach John Desko said. "Things snowballed and things started to happen for us."
Except a slew of turnovers and the inability to get off a final shot led No. 2 Syracuse to fall to No. 1 Virginia, 13-12, Friday night at the Carrier Dome in front of 16,595 fans. It was the third-largest crowd in Syracuse lacrosse history.
Desko called a timeout with one minute to play, but Chris Daniello barely got a shot off. Virginia gained possession and held the ball, rejoicing as the clock timed out in their favor.
Virginia-Syracuse games historically teeter on an uncertain outcome until the final minute of play. Last year during the regular season, the Cavaliers topped the Orange, 14-13, in overtime, in a game that resembled Friday night's contest.
The Virginia offense exploded away from Syracuse's reach after halftime. During a five-minute stretch in the third quarter, the Cavalier attack surged, scoring five goals, leaving Syracuse sophomore goalie John Galloway sprawled on the field after several fast-fired shots.
"I think that we caught them off guard and started moving our bodies and the ball a lot smarter and more intent," Danny Glading, a Virginia attack, said. "I was in a dream state. In that one goal I had, we moved the ball quicker letting me dodge around my right and not letting Galloway get a good look at it."
Earlier during halftime, Glading said the Cavaliers realized they "weren't really playing good defense" in the first half. The realization helped Virginia create an opportunity. Virginia scored six goals in the third quarter. Galloway stopped just two shots.
Syracuse trailed Virginia by four goals, and couldn't get on track, couldn't find a rhythm. Shots sailed wide. Passes scooted out-of-bounds. Most everything looked bleak.
But the Orange rebounded, outscoring the Cavaliers by three goals in the fourth, leaving them down one goal with one minute to play.
"We saw our confidence back as we started to score goals," Syracuse head coach John Desko said. "Things snowballed and things started to happen for us."
Except a slew of turnovers and the inability to get off a final shot led No. 2 Syracuse to fall to No. 1 Virginia, 13-12, Friday night at the Carrier Dome in front of 16,595 fans. It was the third-largest crowd in Syracuse lacrosse history.
Desko called a timeout with one minute to play, but Chris Daniello barely got a shot off. Virginia gained possession and held the ball, rejoicing as the clock timed out in their favor.
Virginia-Syracuse games historically teeter on an uncertain outcome until the final minute of play. Last year during the regular season, the Cavaliers topped the Orange, 14-13, in overtime, in a game that resembled Friday night's contest.
The Virginia offense exploded away from Syracuse's reach after halftime. During a five-minute stretch in the third quarter, the Cavalier attack surged, scoring five goals, leaving Syracuse sophomore goalie John Galloway sprawled on the field after several fast-fired shots.
"I think that we caught them off guard and started moving our bodies and the ball a lot smarter and more intent," Danny Glading, a Virginia attack, said. "I was in a dream state. In that one goal I had, we moved the ball quicker letting me dodge around my right and not letting Galloway get a good look at it."
Earlier during halftime, Glading said the Cavaliers realized they "weren't really playing good defense" in the first half. The realization helped Virginia create an opportunity. Virginia scored six goals in the third quarter. Galloway stopped just two shots.
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