Dick Blume/ Syracuse.com
One of the most amazing streaks in college athletics is still in tact. Since 1979, every Syracuse senior who played all four years at SU has been to a lacrosse Final Four. Simply remarkable. But the national championship was a bridge too far, as the Orange lose 16-10 to Duke.
The faceoff circle was where this game was won and lost. SU couldn’t grab 21-of-30 faceoffs, despite blazing out of the gate to take an early lead. But the Blue Devils soaked the clock, tallied scores, and essentially played keep away. Syracuse used six different players in the faceoff X, but they all failed to topple Brendan Fowler. The Blue Devils specialist won an amazing 20-of-28 draws, and took home Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Here’s how it looked in their words, compiled from tweets following the game:
Duke coach John Danowski: “I just want to say congrats to Syracuse. Just a classy group of coaches and a joy to go up against”
Desko: “These seniors have talked a lot about their legacy – and that kept them focused all season long”
Great season SU Men’s Lax team!
Megill: “If there’s one thing we can pass down to the younger guys its playing with head, heart and hustle.”
Megill in press conference- “we didn’t have the stars that Syracuse normally has, we had a team”
That game makes me really appreciate how difficult it truly is to win a National Championship.
Desko: “I told John after the game to buy his face off guy a big steak, because he deserves it.”
Well it was only a matter of time before our achilles heal all season came back to bite us. 7/28 on faceoffs I believe
All you boys keep your heads up you guys played like champions all year and made me and all of us Orangemen proud love y’all #orangenation
MBB, MLAX, WLAX and FH in final fours. FB co-conf and Pinstripe Bowl champs. MSOC in the Sweet 16 and WBB in the NCAA Tourny. Lehhgo @theACC
Take my hat off to the Syracuse lacrosse team. Played their butts off the entire game
Duke wins the national title, 16-10. Amazing how far that program has ascended since Danowski got there. Congrats.
Big respect for John Danowski. Instructed his Duke players to remove their hats and shirts for handshakes with Syracuse. Class all the way.
Can’t wait to see these two battle year in, year out in the ACC. That league will be unreal.
