Syracuse kept its tough stretch of games rolling this afternoon, hosting No. 6 Duke at the JMA Dome while riding a six-game win streak. The Blue Devils came in 8–1, carrying one of the nation’s hottest offenses, and the Orange knew they’d need to be sharp on both ends to keep up. With Jimmy McCool ready in goal and the team determined to protect its momentum, Syracuse was set for a high-stakes showdown
Cool as a Cucumber
Just four days after tying a season-high 17 saves in an 18–12 win over then-No. 13 Georgetown, Syracuse goalie Jimmy McCool faced an even tougher test in No. 6 Duke.
The Blue Devils entered the JMA Dome as one of the top offenses in the country, averaging over 17 goals per game, and they showed it early — scoring 15 goals with seven different players finding the net. McCool had his moments of struggle, adjusting to the pace and pressure.
But he never lost control of the game.
The sophomore still stopped nearly half the shots he faced and, more importantly, found his rhythm late. In a crucial stretch of the second half, McCool helped hold Duke scoreless for over 10 minutes, giving Syracuse a chance to stay within reach.
After the game, head coach Garry Gait kept it simple: “It’s incredibly important to have a goalie you can trust and believe in. We have that with Jimmy.”
Mr. 300
Joey Spallina added another milestone to his remarkable career at Syracuse, reaching a rare achievement that cements his place among the program’s all-time greats. On Saturday, Spallina scored his 300th goal in an Orange uniform, joining Mikey Powell as only the second player in program history to reach that mark.
Despite the milestone, the game itself was a quieter one for Spallina. After the historic goal, he struggled to find the back of the net in the second half and battled a handful of turnovers.
Still, his focus remained on the bigger picture: helping his team secure the win. Reflecting on his effort, he admitted, “I didn’t play particularly well… six turnovers, too much. But I’ll do whatever I gotta do to give my team the win.”
4th Quarter Dominance
This season, Syracuse has struggled to close out games, as was clear in last Sunday’s nail-biting 13–12 win over then-No. 14 Denver, when the Orange held an 11–6 lead midway through the third quarter but nearly let it slip away.
Today, however, Syracuse came out with a different mindset — determined to finish strong.
Trailing 10–9 at halftime, the Orange opened the third quarter with a quick 3–0 run to seize control. Duke fought back, cutting the lead to 14–15 early in the fourth, but Syracuse would not be denied, keeping the Blue Devils off the board for more than 10 minutes.
With just under a minute remaining, a Duke illegal screen on Syracuse’s offense effectively iced the game, allowing the Orange to hold on for a hard-fought victory.
