'Cuse, Duke Clash Sunday for ACC Title

(4) SYRACUSE (10-2) vs. (6) DUKE (11-4)
Game Details: Sunday, April 26 | 1 p.m.
Location: PPL Park | Chester, Pa.
Game Links: Tournament Central | Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Television: ESPNU
Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM (Syracuse)
Twitter: @CuseMLAX | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
Duke Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes

CHESTER, Pa. – For the second consecutive year, the third and fourth seeds will meet to decide the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. Third-seeded Syracuse (10-2) and fourth-seeded Duke (11-4) each won their semifinal matchups and will square off for the conference title at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at PPL Park. The winner receives the league's automatic berth in the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship.

Star attackman Kevin Rice scored with 1:48 left in regulation to propel the Orange past North Carolina in the semifinals, 9-8. Duke held off a late Notre Dame charge and toppled the top-ranked Irish, 13-8.

SU IN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS
The Orange owns a 6-1 all-time record in conference tournament games, including a 4-0 record in semifinal contests and a 2-1 mark in league championship tilts. SU captured the 2012 and 2013 BIG EAST Championships by winning its first four conference tournament contests.

All three of Syracuse's ACC Tournament games the past two years have been decided by one goal. The Orange was last year's ACC Tournament runner-up, losing for the first time in league tournament play, 15-14, in the ACC title game to Notre Dame.

DEFENSE DIALED IN
Since surrendering 17 goals at North Carolina on April 11, SU has only allowed 13 its last two games (6.5 per contest). The Orange gave up a season-low five goals to Hobart on April 14 and held UNC to eight (seven below its season average) in the ACC semifinals.

Goalie Bobby Wardwell has been particularly sharp. He owns a .667 save percentage and 5.49 goals-against average in that span. Wardwell made a career-high 14 saves Friday against the Tar Heels.

DONAHUE REACHES 40 GOALS
Dylan Donahue scored twice versus North Carolina in the conference semifinals, raising his season goals total to 40. He is the first SU player to score 40 goals in a campaign since Stephen Keogh had 49 for the Orange in 2009.

Donahue's production has gone up steadily each season. From 27 goals in 2013 to 37 last year to 40 this season.

RICE APPROACHING 200 POINTS
Kevin Rice is on the verge of a major milestone. Rice has 194 career points (84 goals, 110 assists) and needs six more to join the illustrious 200-point club.

Fifteen Orange players have compiled at least 200 points, the most recent being Mike Leveille who had 215 from 2005-08. The exclusive group features several Orange legends, including all three Powell brothers (Casey, Ryan, Mike), the Gait twins (Gary and Paul), Tim Nelson, Tom Marechek, and Brad Kotz.

SCOUTING DUKE
The Blue Devils have won four in a row since losing on the road to Notre Dame, 15-10, on April 4.

Rookie Justin Guterding leads Duke in goals (44). He's flanked by Jack Bruckner (36 goals) and Case Matheis (16 goals) on attack. Matheis had a career-high four goals in the semifinals against the Irish.

All-ACC midfifelders Myles Jones (36 goals, 32 assists) and Deemer Class (32 goals, 16 assists) are a dangerous one-two punch. Jones has been slowed by a hand injury, but still managed one goal and two assists versus Notre Dame Friday.

The Duke defense has stepped up of late. The Blue Devils have allowed 35 goals in their last four games (8.75 per game) compared to 62 in the four contests before that (15.5 per game).

Coach John Danowski has guided Duke to the Final Four every year he's been in Durham. He has won three NCAA championships and four ACC Tournament titles. Danowski is second among active Division I coaches with 358 career wins.

THE DUKE SERIES
SU holds an 8-5 advantage in the series against Duke, including a 5-2 margin in neutral-site games.

The Orange is 1-0 versus the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament. In the 2014 league semifinals, Dylan Donahue stopped Duke's four-game series winning streak by scoring at the buzzer to lift the Orange to a 16-15 win.

Earlier this year, SU defeated Duke at the Carrier Dome, 19-7. The 19 goals were an SU series high, and the 12-goal differential matched the Orange's largest margin of victory in the series.

UP NEXT
The Orange wraps up the 2015 regular-season against Colgate on Saturday, May 2.

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Donahue

Kevin Rice

Bobby Wardwell

Syracuse University Athletics