1989 NCAA Champs Celebrate 25th Anniversary

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As part of a program that honors past national champions, members of the 1989 Syracuse men's lacrosse team will be recognized by the NCAA in an on-field ceremony at halftime of Monday's national championship game. The ceremony commemorates the 25-year anniversary of the Orange's third NCAA title.

Led by head coach Roy Simmons Jr. and team captains John Zulberti and Steve Scaramuzzino, Syracuse went 14-1 in 1989 to repeat as national champions. The Orange scored at least 15 goals 10 times and finished the season 253 total goals (16.9 per game), the eighth-highest total in school history.

Syracuse's only loss in 1989 was a 14-13 decision at Johns Hopkins in the season opener. After losing to the Blue Jays, the Orange responded by winning its final 11 regular-season games to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. SU easily dispatched Navy and Maryland in its first two postseason games and avenged the Hopkins loss with a 13-12 victory over the Blue Jays in the national championship game.

The team featured nine All-Americans, including Zulberti who earned first-team honors along with Gary Gait, Paul Gait and Pat McCabe. Zulberti tallied 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists) to lead the Orange in scoring and capture the Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award as the nation's top attackman. Gary Gait was named the USILA Midfielder of the Year for second consecutive season after recording 51 goals and 14 assists.

On a team loaded with offensive stars, it was ultimately the SU defense that clinched the national championship. In front of a then NCAA-record crowd of 23,893 at Maryland's Byrd Stadium, goalie Matt Palumb stoned John Dressel in tight as time expired to preserve SU's one-goal victory in the title game.

Syracuse University Athletics

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