The most incredible streak in college lacrosse, and one of the most impressive in collegiate sports, is intact thanks to a late scoring binge by Syracuse. The Orange beat Yale 7-6 in the Elite 8, fueled by three goals in the final 3:36. With the win, SU advances to yet another Final Four. Which means this Class of ’13 will reach the promised land, just like every other class on the Hill since 1979.
Let that sink in. Every lax player who has suited up for the Orange in the last three and a half decades, and stayed for four seasons, has reached championship weekend. Simply amazing.
This was an embattled senior class. Last year the Orange suffered through a tremendously disappointing campaign, with Duke putting a final sharp nail in the coffin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. SU had notched the top seed in the tourney this year, but three underachieving seasons on the Hill in ’10, ’11, and ’12, left many wondering if the Orange lax magic had vanished for good.
Instead this senior class bonded with a group of talented youngsters and clicked into gear during crunch time, ripped off a trio of goals to take the lead, and eventually hang on to win the game. Every lax player who has ever been recruited to the Hill essentially had an unbreakable promise: You become an Orange, you’ll play in the Final Four. Guaranteed.
It looked like that sturdy certainty might come to an end yesterday in College Park, Maryland. Instead, one of the most mind-blowing records is still in tact.
You play four years at Syracuse, you’ll go to a Final Four. Thirty-four years and counting.
Posted: D.A.
