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Syracuse Rallies, Edges Cornell in OT to Win Championship
FOXBORRO, Mass. -- Syracuse scored the last four goals of the game, including the game-winner in overtime, and the Orange claimed its 11th NCAA Championship by defeating Cornell, 10-9, on Memorial Day at Gillette Field. Dan Hardy found Cody Jamieson in the extra session and Jamieson buried the game-winner for the Orange. Syracuse successfully defended its 2008 crown with the triumph.
"I'm a little bit at a loss for words," said SU Coach John Desko. "I can't tell you how happy I am for our group. I'm excited they've won the school's 11th national championship." The title was Desko's fifth as head coach, putting him third on an exclusive list behind former SU mentor Roy Simmons Jr. and Princeton's Bill Tierney, who each accumulated six.
Syracuse trailed 9-6 after Cornell's Roy Lange scored with 5:31 left in regulation. SU Coach John Desko called timeout to settle his crew and review the situation they faced. The Orange got a glimmer of hope when Stephen Keough scored his second of the game and 49th of the season on an assist from Hardy. The goal pulled SU within two, 9-7, with 3:37 on the clock. Then Jamieson stepped up, securing a pass from Josh Amidon and beating Cornell netminder Jake Myers with 2:46 remaining to narrow the gap to 9-8.
The Orange had its opportunity but seemed to have run out of luck when Cornell secured possession in the final half minute. Syracuse rode the Big Red a forced a turnover. A loose ball emerged on the stick of Keough, who threw behind-the-back to Matt Abbott. With two defenders checking him, Abbott threw a behind-the-back pass to Kenny Nims, who tallied with four seconds left to force the extra session.
"It's our time of year," said Nims in the postgame press conference, when asked about the connection between Syracuse lacrosse and Memorial Day. "This is why you go to Syracuse." Nims was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Joining him on the all-tournament team were Abbott, Jamieson, Pat Perritt and Joel White.
Balanced scoring, an Orange characteristic all season, was front and center on Monday as well. Eight different players scored goals for SU with only Jamieson and Keogh scoring twice. Jamieson also had an assist, while Amidon and Hardy each had one goal and two assists. The Orange won 12 of 22 faceoffs and Jake Moulton paced the effort by taking 10 of 17. SU also had the edge in ground balls, 30-28, thanks in part to six from White.
Syracuse found itself in a strange land during the contest -- playing from behind. The Big Red jumped out to a 2-0 lead and after the Orange tied things on goals from Chris Daniello (21st) and Greg Niewieroski (9th), Cornell tallied with 21 seconds left in the first period to go up 3-2. It marked only the third time all season that SU was behind after the opening session.
The Orange tied the score twice in the second period. Keogh drove home his 48th to knot things at 3-3. Pat Perritt, who had four goals in the semifinal win against Duke, found the net for his 18th of the season off a pass from Abbott to tie things at 4-4. Cornell tallied the last two goals of the first half and went into intermission ahead, 6-4. It was the only the second time in 2009 that SU was behind at the break.
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"I'm a little bit at a loss for words," said SU Coach John Desko. "I can't tell you how happy I am for our group. I'm excited they've won the school's 11th national championship." The title was Desko's fifth as head coach, putting him third on an exclusive list behind former SU mentor Roy Simmons Jr. and Princeton's Bill Tierney, who each accumulated six.
Syracuse trailed 9-6 after Cornell's Roy Lange scored with 5:31 left in regulation. SU Coach John Desko called timeout to settle his crew and review the situation they faced. The Orange got a glimmer of hope when Stephen Keough scored his second of the game and 49th of the season on an assist from Hardy. The goal pulled SU within two, 9-7, with 3:37 on the clock. Then Jamieson stepped up, securing a pass from Josh Amidon and beating Cornell netminder Jake Myers with 2:46 remaining to narrow the gap to 9-8.
The Orange had its opportunity but seemed to have run out of luck when Cornell secured possession in the final half minute. Syracuse rode the Big Red a forced a turnover. A loose ball emerged on the stick of Keough, who threw behind-the-back to Matt Abbott. With two defenders checking him, Abbott threw a behind-the-back pass to Kenny Nims, who tallied with four seconds left to force the extra session.
"It's our time of year," said Nims in the postgame press conference, when asked about the connection between Syracuse lacrosse and Memorial Day. "This is why you go to Syracuse." Nims was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Joining him on the all-tournament team were Abbott, Jamieson, Pat Perritt and Joel White.
Balanced scoring, an Orange characteristic all season, was front and center on Monday as well. Eight different players scored goals for SU with only Jamieson and Keogh scoring twice. Jamieson also had an assist, while Amidon and Hardy each had one goal and two assists. The Orange won 12 of 22 faceoffs and Jake Moulton paced the effort by taking 10 of 17. SU also had the edge in ground balls, 30-28, thanks in part to six from White.
Syracuse found itself in a strange land during the contest -- playing from behind. The Big Red jumped out to a 2-0 lead and after the Orange tied things on goals from Chris Daniello (21st) and Greg Niewieroski (9th), Cornell tallied with 21 seconds left in the first period to go up 3-2. It marked only the third time all season that SU was behind after the opening session.
The Orange tied the score twice in the second period. Keogh drove home his 48th to knot things at 3-3. Pat Perritt, who had four goals in the semifinal win against Duke, found the net for his 18th of the season off a pass from Abbott to tie things at 4-4. Cornell tallied the last two goals of the first half and went into intermission ahead, 6-4. It was the only the second time in 2009 that SU was behind at the break.
2009-05-25
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