Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU defense stifles Duke offense, holds Crotty scoreless
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 5/23/09, 6:34 PM EST Section: Final Four '09
After last years' semi-final in which he gave up 13 goals in an overtime win over Virginia, Galloway came to Gillette Stadium wanting to erase some bad memories from last season.
"But just to be able to come out here and execute our game plan, I think defensively our guys did great," Galloway said. "I saw the ball well. I felt comfortable and I felt confident and I think that was a huge difference from going into last year."
Faceoffs give Syracuse a lift
Coming into the season, Syracuse head coach John Desko worried about his faceoff unit. Trying to replace Danny Brennan, the top man in the nation in 2008, resulted in just a .500 record in the X for the Orange this season.
But on Saturday, the Orange's faceoff unit was the least of Desko's worries. Syracuse won 18-of-28 faceoffs against Duke to provide the Orange with extra possessions and keep the ball away from Duke's powerful attack. Jake Moulton and Gavin Jenkinson combined to win 17 of the faceoffs for Syracuse.
"I think it was pretty big for us," Desko said. "We were 18-for-28, looking at some of the stats. And to have that many more possessions, both teams are pretty good on offense, to give our offense that many more opportunities, didn't hurt us at all."
The faceoff unit also provided perhaps the game-changing moment of the game. In the faceoff to start the second half, Moulton won the draw and streaked to the net before blowing a shot by Duke goalie Rob Schroeder to give SU a 9-4 lead just seven seconds into the half.
"We came out and won that very first faceoff to start the second half and Jake won it and went down and scored off of it," Desko said. "That was a big lift for us coming out of halftime, wondering what we were going to see, were we going to see one of their runs, and that got us started off on the right foot."
Jamieson has big day
Cody Jamieson had never scored more goals in a game for Syracuse than his teammate Stephen Keogh. The Canada-natives grew up playing together and have known each for a long time, but in their tenure at Syracuse, Keogh always scored the same amount of goals or more as Jamieson -until Saturday.
Jamieson took over Keogh's role as the dominant crease player in Syracuse's win, collecting two goals and an assist Keogh had just one goal.
"It's both where we are comfortable," Jamieson said. "We're both finishers in front of the crease. It doesn't both either one of us if one us goes in there. We both want to help the team."
As Jamieson waited to be eligible for most of the season, Keogh served as Syracuse's primary crease player, getting good passes from Kenny Nims and scoring 46 goals going into Saturday. But against the Blue Devils, Jamieson provided the necessary play needed around the crease and ended up with the better statistical day.
After the contest, Jamieson said he hadn't ribbed his friend at all about his better day - but might have something planned for later.
"Not yet," Jamieson said. "But that's a good idea."
mrehalt@syr.edu
"But just to be able to come out here and execute our game plan, I think defensively our guys did great," Galloway said. "I saw the ball well. I felt comfortable and I felt confident and I think that was a huge difference from going into last year."
Faceoffs give Syracuse a lift
Coming into the season, Syracuse head coach John Desko worried about his faceoff unit. Trying to replace Danny Brennan, the top man in the nation in 2008, resulted in just a .500 record in the X for the Orange this season.
But on Saturday, the Orange's faceoff unit was the least of Desko's worries. Syracuse won 18-of-28 faceoffs against Duke to provide the Orange with extra possessions and keep the ball away from Duke's powerful attack. Jake Moulton and Gavin Jenkinson combined to win 17 of the faceoffs for Syracuse.
"I think it was pretty big for us," Desko said. "We were 18-for-28, looking at some of the stats. And to have that many more possessions, both teams are pretty good on offense, to give our offense that many more opportunities, didn't hurt us at all."
The faceoff unit also provided perhaps the game-changing moment of the game. In the faceoff to start the second half, Moulton won the draw and streaked to the net before blowing a shot by Duke goalie Rob Schroeder to give SU a 9-4 lead just seven seconds into the half.
"We came out and won that very first faceoff to start the second half and Jake won it and went down and scored off of it," Desko said. "That was a big lift for us coming out of halftime, wondering what we were going to see, were we going to see one of their runs, and that got us started off on the right foot."
Jamieson has big day
Cody Jamieson had never scored more goals in a game for Syracuse than his teammate Stephen Keogh. The Canada-natives grew up playing together and have known each for a long time, but in their tenure at Syracuse, Keogh always scored the same amount of goals or more as Jamieson -until Saturday.
Jamieson took over Keogh's role as the dominant crease player in Syracuse's win, collecting two goals and an assist Keogh had just one goal.
"It's both where we are comfortable," Jamieson said. "We're both finishers in front of the crease. It doesn't both either one of us if one us goes in there. We both want to help the team."
As Jamieson waited to be eligible for most of the season, Keogh served as Syracuse's primary crease player, getting good passes from Kenny Nims and scoring 46 goals going into Saturday. But against the Blue Devils, Jamieson provided the necessary play needed around the crease and ended up with the better statistical day.
After the contest, Jamieson said he hadn't ribbed his friend at all about his better day - but might have something planned for later.
"Not yet," Jamieson said. "But that's a good idea."
mrehalt@syr.edu
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