For the first time since 2013, the Syracuse men’s lacrosse team is heading back to Championship Weekend. The No. 6 seed Orange edged No. 3 seed Princeton, 19-18, in an epic back-and-forth battle at Hofstra, earning their 27th trip to the Final Four.
Led by junior Joey Spallina’s eight-point effort (4 goals, 4 assists), Syracuse overcame an early deficit and withstood multiple Princeton rallies. Nine different Orange players scored, with Owen Hiltz and Michael Leo each netting hat tricks. Hiltz added two assists, including the game-winner off a Spallina feed with 3:50 left.
After surrendering an early 5-2 lead to Princeton, Syracuse closed the first quarter on a four-goal run and later opened the third with six straight to build a 16-11 advantage. Princeton surged back to tie it at 16, but the Orange never wavered.
Goalie Jimmy McCool made 12 saves, including two clutch stops in the final minutes to preserve the one-goal victory. It marked Syracuse’s third straight one-goal win.
Box Score
The Orange will face either Maryland or Georgetown in the national semifinals on May 24 at Gillette Stadium, where Syracuse last won national titles in 2008 and 2009.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].