Orange Eye Final Four in Towson Prep

Nine one-goal wins. That's nine games that took some type of late-game heroics from the Syracuse men's lacrosse team and the team delivered again on Sunday. With the game tied with 2:09 left to play, Stephen Rehfuss scored the eventual game-winner in an 11-10 win over Yale, to send the Orange on to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.

'Cuse will face another tough opponent in No. 11 Towson on Sunday, but the Orange know what's on the line – a trip to the final four at Gillette Stadium. After falling short in the quarterfinals last season, Syracuse goes into the game more prepared than ever.

"I think everybody knows where we're at this part of the year," Austin Fusco said. "Everyone's excited that we've got a great opportunity in front of us. If you win this game, you bring us back to the final four. The team's been working really hard. We've been putting in the time all year and it's time to really get going now with the quarterfinals this weekend."

Jordan Evans knows that it takes the right mentality to win a game of this caliber. Evans, a senior who has seen the Orange fall just a game short of Championship Weekend two years in a row, knows that while the team has bigger goals on the horizon for this season, Towson is the only thing that matters. A win over the Tigers sends 'Cuse to Foxborough and one step closer to hoisting a trophy the Orange have lifted 11 times previously, but none of that comes into play without a win over Towson first.

"We're trying to take it game-by-game," Evans said. "This Towson game is our championship game right now. I think it would be incredible to make it back to the final four. To win that many one-goal games this year, everybody keeps saying that may be a little luck involved but we're ready to show the next level of our game and get a good quality win to get back to Championship Weekend and be a final four team."

For fellow senior Scott Firman, a trip to final four is the perfect ending for an incredible season. Firman's special senior campaign is a microcosm of how the season has played out for Syracuse.

The captain has emerged as one of the nation's premiere close defenders after not having played the position until this season.

"This group is a special group to me," Firman said. "These are guys that worked unbelievably hard and we've seen it pay off in these one-goal games that have been unbelievable. To take this group and bring them to the final four would be really special."

This group, besides Firman, is filled with contributors and leaders that have somewhat unexpected success stories. Sergio Salcido, a walk-on who Coach Desko wasn't sure would ever contribute to the Orange, has gone on to win ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors, Nick Mariano - an overlooked recruit out of high school by the Orange who transferred to 'Cuse after two seasons at UMass and has become one of the nation's best midfielders and goal scorers. Evan Molloy - who spent the better part of his first four seasons as a backup - has been the vocal leader of the Orange defensive unit, coming up with a big save on countless occasions this season, including a 15 save game in the first round against Yale to get Syracuse to the quarterfinal.

Another unlikely star - Ben Williams, born in Minnesota and played his freshman season at Holy Cross - views it as an added week to his last season with the Orange and he's looking forward to trying to make that happen.

"We're confident in our group and what we've done this season," Williams said. "We want another week with each other. We're only guaranteed a few more days and we're hoping to make it one more week."

Williams also doesn't feel the team is under any pressure but rather everyone is ready to take care of business.

"It would mean everything to get back to the final four," Williams said. "It's been a while since Syracuse has made a final four and I think we have a great opportunity to make it happen again. I think everyone is excited to get on the bus, get down there and do our job."

On Sunday at noon, the ball will be placed at the X and a group of players with different stories and roads the Syracuse will stand one game away from bringing the most storied program in college lacrosse back to the Final Four for the 28th time - and first since 2013. Five fifth-year seniors remain from that 2013 team, with only Cal Paduda seeing the field that season. For everyone else, its one win from accomplishing a lifelong goal.

Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Evans

Scott Firman

Austin Fusco

Nick Mariano

Evan Molloy

Cal Paduda

Stephen Rehfuss

Sergio Salcido

Ben Williams

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