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The Daily OrangeDesko beats odds, becomes 1st coach to win consecutive titles in 11 years
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 5/25/09, 7:02 PM EST Section: Sports
Before the game, the Syracuse team wore gray shirts with one word on the front: "legacy." And after the 2009 title registered as Desko's fifth and the program's record-breaking 11th, the word "legacy" rang true. A legacy that Desko has helped create from being a player back in the late 1970s, to being an assistant coach under Simmons and now winning his fifth title as head coach.
"It's been a special group," Desko, the winningest coach in NCAA tournament history said. "I've known all these guys since they were young, seen them from a far, either coach or played with their fathers. It makes it that much more special for me. It's great for them to go out this way and having another national championship in their senior year."
Unlucky No. 4
Cornell midfielder Max Seibald said he'll never forget it: being amid the chaos during the game-tying and game-winning goals Syracuse scored in Monday's NCAA final game.
"Four seconds away…," said Seibad, teary-eyed and choked up at the podium. "It seems to be a number that haunts us."
When Seibald was a sophomore, "four" was the number of seconds on the board when Duke scored on Cornell in the semifinal of the 2007 tournament to oust the Big Red. With four seconds remaining in regulation Monday, SU's Matt Abbott found Kenny Nims to tie the game and send the matchup into overtime.
Four seconds longer and Cornell would have won the national title, but Syracuse's late surge was too much for the Big Red to stop.
"That makes it even tougher for us," Seibald said. "For the seniors, we've worked so hard the past four years. ...We love each other. There's a lot of emotion in that locker room right now. I'm proud of every one of them, and I wouldn't trade this group of guys for a national championship."
Galloway records second NCAA title win
John Galloway was thrown onto the national scene in 2008. The SU goalkeeper started every game his freshman year and led the Syracuse to its 10th national title.
Once the 2009 season began, Galloway said he heard the criticism about him and about the defense in front of him. But he kept working harder to improve.
"Game in and game out, we kept saying people might not be able to do it again," Galloway said. "But a win's a win. Doesn't matter how you get it."
Then, making 10 saves - the same as Cornell goalie Jake Myers - Galloway led the defense and his team to another national title, back-to-back. The 10-9 win over Cornell in the championship game gives Galloway a 32-4 overall record at Syracuse.
"Two-for-two," Galloway said. "Not too bad."
mkgalant@syr.edu
"It's been a special group," Desko, the winningest coach in NCAA tournament history said. "I've known all these guys since they were young, seen them from a far, either coach or played with their fathers. It makes it that much more special for me. It's great for them to go out this way and having another national championship in their senior year."
Unlucky No. 4
Cornell midfielder Max Seibald said he'll never forget it: being amid the chaos during the game-tying and game-winning goals Syracuse scored in Monday's NCAA final game.
"Four seconds away…," said Seibad, teary-eyed and choked up at the podium. "It seems to be a number that haunts us."
When Seibald was a sophomore, "four" was the number of seconds on the board when Duke scored on Cornell in the semifinal of the 2007 tournament to oust the Big Red. With four seconds remaining in regulation Monday, SU's Matt Abbott found Kenny Nims to tie the game and send the matchup into overtime.
Four seconds longer and Cornell would have won the national title, but Syracuse's late surge was too much for the Big Red to stop.
"That makes it even tougher for us," Seibald said. "For the seniors, we've worked so hard the past four years. ...We love each other. There's a lot of emotion in that locker room right now. I'm proud of every one of them, and I wouldn't trade this group of guys for a national championship."
Galloway records second NCAA title win
John Galloway was thrown onto the national scene in 2008. The SU goalkeeper started every game his freshman year and led the Syracuse to its 10th national title.
Once the 2009 season began, Galloway said he heard the criticism about him and about the defense in front of him. But he kept working harder to improve.
"Game in and game out, we kept saying people might not be able to do it again," Galloway said. "But a win's a win. Doesn't matter how you get it."
Then, making 10 saves - the same as Cornell goalie Jake Myers - Galloway led the defense and his team to another national title, back-to-back. The 10-9 win over Cornell in the championship game gives Galloway a 32-4 overall record at Syracuse.
"Two-for-two," Galloway said. "Not too bad."
mkgalant@syr.edu
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