Syracuse vs. Virginia

[jdturtle02]

There are two threads running about the Konica Minolta Face-off Classic in Baltimore, but neither seems to be giving the Syracuse vs. Virginia clash its proper respect. One is decidedly focused on Hopkins-Princeton; the other seems more like general discussion. Just feels like this match-up isn't getting the attention it deserves, and considering the traditions and fan bases involved, that's ... well, surprising.

There have already been some great early-season games and noteworthy performances out there, but I don't think any of them comes close to the significance of this scrap to these teams -- and for completely different reasons.

Syracuse missed the NCAA Tournament after 24 straight appearances last year, but the real shocker to me was its 5-8 finish. In a season of unimaginable upsets and close defeats in its most bitter rivalry games, the Orange still ranked No. 5 in scoring at 11.54 goals per outing. If Duke was last year's Redemption Road story, Syracuse is the team to watch in 2008. All Americans Mike Leveille and Dan Hardy return to a punishing attack along with Greg Niewieroski. The midfield is solid and virtually all of Syracuse's scoring punch is back. The defense is the big question. The unit is junior and sophomore rich, but needs to atone for an 11.38 goals against average in 2007. John Galloway was the first freshman in Syracuse history to start the season in goal during the Orange’s 21-6 rout of Villanova, and played the entire game in their 8-7 win over Army.

Third-ranked Virginia (3-0) enters the classic with its own demons, including a shocking 14-8 loss to Delaware in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. While Syracuse will be fighting to reclaim its place among the nation's elite, Virginia will be fighting hard to maintain its lofty ranking. The Cavaliers have already had one scare, losing a 9-2 lead over Stony Brook at Klockner Stadium before scoring the final two goals for a 15-13 win. Dom Starsia, for my money one of the best coaches in the history of the game, has a terrific arsenal in Ben Rubeor, Garret Billings, Danny Glading, Brian Carroll, Jack Riley and Duke transfer Peter Lamade. The departure of All Americans Kip Turner (G) and Ricky Smith (D) may be felt for a while, but the Cavaliers have a lot of developing talent and a few top recruits who should be able to hold most opponents in check. Freshman net minder Adam Ghitelman has posted an 8.5 goals against average in his first three starts, a figure that will likely improve as the season wears on.

This should be an exciting, high-scoring game, and Syracuse has a legitimate shot to upset the Cavaliers. Then again, I felt that way often last year while Virginia marched through a killer schedule en route to a 12-3 regular season record.

Virginia 14-11

[stegmakk]

I still think the Cuse special teams are suspect. Yes they tooled up on Villanova...but thats villanova.
Army while still decent has lost some game compared to last year or two. Army scored 75% (3 out of 4) man up opportunities. Syracuse by comparrison INCLUDING Villanova match up has only scored on 45% EMO.

With Rubeor coming back I think the biggest question in the game will be how Starsia sets up his midfielders.
13-9 UVA is my pick

[laxer6]

UVA's midfield is so scary. If the first line is the Bratton twins and Lamade you have to adjust to how fast that line is. Also your second line would have Brian Carroll who is a bulldozer and leads the midfield w 9 points. If the first line is Lamade, Shammel Bratton and Carroll is kind of a pick your poison. Who gets the pole there? I think depth is what is going to lead Virginia over Syracuse. Both defenses are suspect but Virginia does have Ken Clausen and better d middies. Virginia 16-10

[HVlaxa7]

is this game on tv? UVA- 13 CUSE- 7

[Live4It]

It's on ESPNU.....will anybody be recording these games today to dvd, because I'm not gonna be able to? And I wanted a copy.

[ALEX WIZ]

Syracuse looking like their wearing all orange Pro 7's. I saw them wearing them in practice this week on the news.

[ALEX WIZ]

Syracuse wearing the new ALL orange jerseys, the ones that were on ILs blog.

[Sir Mackel]

Anyone wanna keep an update on the score in this thread?

[mullengoal141]

2-1 'cuse


galloway and ghitelman are playing so sick

[scarsdalelax08]

any update?

[ALEX WIZ]

4-4 all tied up at half.

[laxplaya9]

anybody know the website for ingame live stats

[hvlacrosse311]

Syracuse is playing really stupid right now. UVA keeps getting EMO opportunities because Cuse keeps hitting high or late. But both goalies look amazing right now. And you can tell Rubeor is coming off a knee injury, especially when he goes to shoot and turn. Anybody else watching this on ESPNU?

[laxhero123]

what channel is espnU

[goaliebeast00]

u only get it with verizon

[ALEX WIZ]

For me ESNPU is 108. But its not the whole SU team playing stuiped its just danny brenon(sp?) hes #40 the fogo for orange.

[laxhero123]

thanks alot

[goaliebeast00]

any updates?

[ALEX WIZ]

Syracuse winning 8-7 with about 4 left in 3rd.

[ALEX WIZ]

9-8 UVA at end of 3rd.

[ALEX WIZ]

Tied 9-9 at beggining of fourth.

[ALEX WIZ]

Syracuse winning 10-9

[Sir Mackel]

I didn't excpect Syracuse to be doing so well, how is the overall tempo of the game,like who has the moment, and who is playing better.

BTW thanks for the updates.

[ALEX WIZ]

Syracuse up 11-9 I will discuss after game.

[Sir Mackel]

Ok thanks.

[ALEX WIZ]

Tied 11-11 now.

[ALEX WIZ]

Syracuse up 12-11.

[bonebrakr12]

aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh my tv is screwing up!!!!!!!!!!!! omg in ot!!!!!!!!

[ALEX WIZ]

12-12 UVA ties it up.

[scarsdalelax08]

how much time left?

[ALEX WIZ]

13-12 UVA with 3 minutes left.

[Lil'Ryan]

these are my two favorite teams and this game is one of the best i have watched just back and fourth play. 13-12 uva 2 mins left

[Lil'Ryan]

13-13 28 seconds

[hvlacrosse311]

Did anybody just see Barrow kick Brennan right in the privates?

[WestsideLAX4]

This is intense...I wish I could watch it :/ Stupid Comcast.

[PW_LAXMAN_07]

what a freaking game.
ot.

[laxhero123]

same here.

[Lil'Ryan]

23 barrow i think is his name great ground ball at 2:30

[Lil'Ryan]

woww what a game uva ot win

[hatlee]

Great game!

[PW_LAXMAN_07]

14-13 uva. brian carrol caught a pass from bratton and ripped it top shelf

[Sir Mackel]

Aww man, I wanted Syracuse to win. I'm suprised they were able to keep up so well.

[ALEX WIZ]

I don't think you should call it keep up they led most of the game.

[hvlacrosse311]

Im suprised they didnt call that holding penalty against Timms when he near took Hardy's head off. But this was an amazing game, even though i was pulling for Cuse.

[ALEX WIZ]

It was an amazing game I just wish Syracuse could ahve won, they have a tough streak ahead of them.

[goaliebeast00]

stupid comcast

[ekajsk8er]

Syracuse took the worst shots possible in OT. 15 yard shots and shots from the GLE hardly ever go in, please stop doing them when the game is on the line.

[Sir Mackel]

It was an amazing game I just wish Syracuse could ahve won, they have a tough streak ahead of them.

Yes but hopefully, this loss will give them confidence that they can stand with some of the best. Just like the Giants before the playoffs.

[laxer6]

Im not really sure if you can call Virginia the best of the best. They gave up 13 a piece to Stony Brook and Syracuse. This is on offense that got held to single digits by Army just last week.

[helix28]

Syracuse is really good this year. They should not have been ranked so high.idk why Il ranked them that high most of them games they lost last year were by one or two goals.

[snafoo]

Harding was selfish and tried to win it himself and ended up turning it over which lead to UVA's winning goal. Brooks was killing it for Cuse and they should have kept putting the ball in his stick...

[Startsy]

I Was There and It was Amazing,
Syracuse looked so strong throughout the entire game, Their Defense DID NOT look like the 48th ranked Defense, Sid Smith is an Excellent Defender.

I was really rooting for Virginia, The final minute was amazing, I forget which UVA defenseman it was but he had a yardsale takeaway which led to the change of possession which won the game.

The Hopkins vs Princeton game was so boring, we left early 'cause Hopkins was up 10 to 1. Hewit was really hurting.

[DJ Death]

I forget which UVA defenseman it was but he had a yardsale takeaway which led to the change of possession which won the game.
it was will barrow. the guy's a straight-up monster on d and in clearing. he's the fastest player in the NCAA, hands down.

[MiddieMan05]

How did Rubeor look for his first game back?

[jdturtle02]

Welcome back, Syracuse
Anyone who saw the opening game of the Konica Minolta Face-off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium knows they witnessed something incredibly special today. I've been to a lot of lacrosse games, but few of them have offered the level of excitement and courage that was displayed today by Syracuse and Virginia. It may sound weird, but both teams left the field as winners in my mind.

Syracuse, coming off a 5-8 season that rocked its most faithful fans, fought through what seemed like a dozen ties and a dozen more lead changes to force overtime against the No. 3 Cavaliers. That was thrilling enough, but the fact that the Wahoos had to overcome two fourth-quarter deficits to survive makes it one of the best games I‘ve ever seen. In the end analysis, despite the outcome, Syracuse is well on its way to reclaiming its place among the nation's elite.

I've already seen some comments about how sloppy some plays were, how some golden opportunities were missed. But anyone who has ever played, on any level, knows the higher the stakes, the tougher the going gets. Heroes? Pick a name off either roster and he probably contributed in a substantial way. But my Most Outstanding Player of the Face-off Classic is a pretty easy pick:

Freshman goalie John Galloway of Syracuse -- He didn’t bring home the win, but he kept the underdog Orange in this critical game with 15 saves and a .517 save percentage against one of the strongest, deepest and most experienced offenses in the nation. And he did it with last year's starting netminder watching from the sideline. That's a double-barrel load of pressure, and his performance was truly inspiring.

Virginia's freshman stopper was just as remarkable. Adam Ghitelman racked up 14 saves and a .519 save percentage. In fact, watching these two was, for me, the most exciting match-up on the field. But Galloway gets the nod as MOP because I feel Virginia threw a lot more weapons at him than Syracuse mustered against Ghitelman. It's going to be fun watching these two develop, they've already got more big game experience than most of their rivals.

MiddieMan -- I thought Rubeor looked good (1 goal, 2 assists, .571 sog percentage, 1 gb), but really, everyone did and both teams ran deep. It was just one of those games ... incredible.

[Phantanimal]

I thought that Matt Abbott #3 for the Orange played a great game. He was a clearing machine a did a prety good job covering the speedy UVA middie lines.

Also, it's kind of funny seeing Coluccini on the overplayed Inside Lacrosse pregame interviews when the only time he has seen this season has been when Galloway was in the box... I kind of feel bad for the kid because it looks like he's taking the fall for the poor performance of last year's D...

[ALEX WIZ]

No one is taking the fall for anything. Coluccini is very inconsistent(sp?) and its better to think about the future than anything. And Dan Hardy is really starting to get me mad it seems he thinks hes a big shot when really hes not and their are many other players that can get the job done better than he can. And Syracuse should have been ranked so high in the beggining, I still am worried that they might not realize that UVA is most definatly not close to being the best team and SU might let off. I think after playing Hopkins we will really see what this SU team can do.

EDIT: Does anyone else think if Danny Brennan didn't get such dumb penalties SU could have won?

[ekajsk8er]

And Dan Hardy is really starting to get me mad it seems he thinks hes a big shot when really hes not and their are many other players that can get the job done better than he can.

That's the way it's kind of been for the past 2 years. Last year it seemed to me like every time he scored, it was all for him and not the team. If Syracuse was down 5 goals and he scored, it seemed like he'd quit because he got his points. He doesn't seem like a team player. I hope he changes that attitude soon when he realizes team chemistry will get him and his team further than being selfish.

I think after playing Hopkins we will really see what this SU team can do.

Honestly, I'm scared of Hopkins and Duke. They're playing on an entire different level right now. With the shaky d our middies have been playing lately (White and Abbott come to mind as exceptions), Hopkins could do some serious damage.

Also, Abbott is the most underrated player in the NCAA. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

[ALEX WIZ]

That's the way it's kind of been for the past 2 years. Last year it seemed to me like every time he scored, it was all for him and not the team. If Syracuse was down 5 goals and he scored, it seemed like he'd quit because he got his points. He doesn't seem like a team player. I hope he changes that attitude soon when he realizes team chemistry will get him and his team further than being selfish.



Honestly, I'm scared of Hopkins and Duke. They're playing on an entire different level right now. With the shaky d our middies have been playing lately (White and Abbott come to mind as exceptions), Hopkins could do some serious damage.

Also, Abbott is the most underrated player in the NCAA. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Definatly Abbott is underrated but I think that is due to not really having a "blowout" freshmen year. But as you can tell he is only getting better and ever since I first saw him I have made him and Steven Brooks my favorite SU players. And don't worry I am also scared of Hopkins and Duke and totally agree with you about them on a different level. And back to Abbott he had a nice ripper in the UVA game something he isn't really well known for yet. Do you live in Syracuse? You seem to have the same ideas about the team as me haha.

[stegmakk]

Cuse played hard. Their FO wins looked good. Thier goalie played great.
I have to say that UVA was a bit sloppy with a number of dropped passes.
Ghitelman made some nice saves for UVA. At least 3 of cuse's goals were garbage goals off rebounds...hey a goal is a goal Im good with that...just sayin...
My favorite goal was Clausen's...I love when a pole takes it down and scores...
Its tough to say a loos is a good loss, but I hope this near miss gives Cuse a confidence boost

[ekajsk8er]

Definatly Abbott is underrated but I think that is due to not really having a "blowout" freshmen year. But as you can tell he is only getting better and ever since I first saw him I have made him and Steven Brooks my favorite SU players. And don't worry I am also scared of Hopkins and Duke and totally agree with you about them on a different level. And back to Abbott he had a nice ripper in the UVA game something he isn't really well known for yet. Do you live in Syracuse? You seem to have the same ideas about the team as me haha.

Nah, I live less than an hour away though, and Syracuse has always been my team so I follow them the most.

I think Abbott gets overlooked because he mostly played d-middie until this year, where hes been put in more on offense. He is probably the most consistent player on the team, never gives up and comes through when we need it. Not to mention he clears literally EVERYTHING.

Also, I'm glad Brooks did well yesterday. I don't think he had any points against Army, and we definitely can't afford to have him not produce.

[D1Dpole]

Who is 11 for Syracuse? He was a beast nasty LPM. Was there a jersey mix up? On their site it says 11 is Joel White, a freshman middie, who scored like 100 some points his senior year of high school. Did they switch him to pole? Because he was merc'ing.

[ekajsk8er]

Yes, Joel White is #11 for Syracuse. He was an offensive middie in high school, but he switched to LSM this year and has been doing an awesome job considering the transition.

[snafoo]

No way you can call Galloway the MVP. The last 3+ goals he let in were stick side high. Gotta give it to Brooks (3-2 on the day), he stepped up big a couple of times and kept Cuse in the game

[HoosUrDaddy]

Um... Am I the only one who noticed that almost every goal Galloway gave up was on stick side? I don't know if I would consider him MVP. I will say both goalies had a great first half. I believe this is a nice thing to see Syracuse back on their game. Face-offs was totally the Orange's game. Virginia struggled to get those face-off for ball control. The Virginia defense has got to step-up. The mid-field for Virginia looked great! Ben Rubeor clearly isn't back at a 100% health yet but Danny Glading is filling his spot just nicely. I can't wait to see when both of them are at 100%. Now that's a threat. Virginia's offense has again and again prove they can put up the points. Also, I heard the EspnU broadcasters talking about how 8-9 of the Virginia players were playing with flu. Along with one of their trainers having the flu. So maybe not a 100% Virginia but still a good one at that. And on the other side of the field. Syracuse will do much better than 5-8 this season.