SU Rallies But Loses To UVA, 13-12

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Top-ranked Syracuse (2-1) rallied back from a five-goal deficit midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn't overtake No. 2 Virginia (5-0) and lost, 13-12, in front of 16,595 fans at the Carrier Dome on Friday, Feb. 27. The Orange scored four goals in the game's final five minutes, but the Cavaliers hung on to hand SU its first loss of the year in a matchup of the nation's two highest-ranked teams.

Trailing 13-8, Syracuse got two goals from senior Kenny Nims, one from senior Dan Hardy and one from redshirt freshman Tim Desko in the span of 3:30 to pull within one goal of Virginia with 1:18 left in the contest. The Orange won the ensuing faceoff and called timeout with 50 seconds to go to set up the game-tying play. But Syracuse turned the ball over when senior Scott Kahoe couldn't collect a loose ball and the Cavaliers ran out the clock to record the victory.

Nims scored four goals to lead the Orange, including consecutive tallies in the fourth quarter to help SU get within striking distance. Sophomore Josh Amidon set a personal best Friday with three points (1g, 2a). Hardy also contributed three points (2g, 1a) for the hosts. Sophomore goalie John Galloway made a season-high 13 saves, including three in the fourth quarter to give SU a chance to tie it at the end.

Syracuse outscored the Cavaliers, 6-3, in the fourth quarter, but Virginia built its lead by outscoring the Orange, 6-2, in the third to break open a 4-4 game. Attackmen Danny Glading, Garrett Billings and midfielder Shamel Bratton each scored twice in the period to give the visitors a 10-6 advantage heading into the final quarter. Virginia looked to be in control of the game when John Haldy scored an unassisted goal with 7:32 to play in regulation, putting the Cavaliers in front, 13-8. But it proved to be their last goal of the night as the Orange roared back before eventually succumbing.

Bratton paced Virginia with five points, including four goals. Glading and Billings each finished with three goals apiece.

The second half scoring runs were in stark contrast to the game's opening 30 minutes when the two teams traded tallies. Every Virginia goal was answered by an Orange score. Amidon had a hand in SU's first two goals, assisting on Joel White's first goal of the year. Amidon also knotted the score at 2-2 when he scooped up a rebounded shot by Kahoe and fired a laser past Virginia goalie Adam Ghitelman with 9:13 left in the period.

The Cavaliers claimed a 3-2 advantage heading into the second quarter on an unassisted goal by Glading, but Kahoe delivered a spectacular behind-the-back bounce shot that found the mark with 6:35 left in the half to tie the game again. A vicious check to SU's Jovan Miller resulted in a turnover and led to a Brian Carroll goal that gave the Cavaliers a one-goal edge for the fourth time in the half, but Syracuse responded again as Hardy found Stephen Keogh on the crease to tie the game, 4-4, at the intermission and set the stage for the thrilling second half.

Virginia outshot the Orange by the count of 48-35 Friday. It was the first time Syracuse has been outshot this season. The Cavaliers also held the edge in faceoffs, winning 17-of-29.

Syracuse returns to action on Saturday, March 7 when it goes on the road for the first time in 2009. The Orange will travel to Washington, D.C. to face Georgetown at 12 p.m. at Multi-Sport Field.

Game Notes: Friday's attendance of 16,595 was the third-largest, regular-season Dome lacrosse crowd in school history and the fourth-largest overall (including NCAA playoffs) … Nims' four goals extended his scoring streak to 19 games … Hardy's assist on Keogh's second-quarter goal was the 100th point of his career … Friday's loss snapped Syracuse's 11-game home winning streak dating back to the start of the 2008 season.

Syracuse University Athletics

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