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Sunday, May 1

Kennesaw, Ga

Noon

Syracuse University

11-6

#13 Duke

9-5

Syracuse

Duke University

5/1/2016 5:45:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

Syracuse Wins ACC Championship

Kennesaw, Ga. - Nearly three hours of a weather delay and a change in field location couldn't prevent the No. 8 Syracuse men's lacrosse team from winning its second-straight ACC Championship, defeating No. 13 Duke 14-8 for the title.

The Orange were leading 9-8 with just over seven minutes to go, when lightning struck within eight miles of the stadium. The weather then got worse, with a torrential downpour temporarily flooding the field at Fifth Third Bank Stadium and lightning striking the stadium scoreboard to render it unusable. The teams then shifted to a 'Turf Field 1" down the street from the stadium after 2:56 of delay.

After the break, it was all-Syracuse. Five different players scored for Syracuse and Ben Williams won four-of-five faceoffs to continue controlling possession for 'Cuse.

The win is the second-straight ACC Championship and fourth conference championship in five seasons for the Orange after winning the 2012 and 2013 BIG EAST Championships as well. Syracuse is now 9-1 all-time in conference tournament games.

Sergio Salcido (2-4) and Tim Barber (4-1) led the way with six and five points respectively on the day, with Dylan Donahue and Nick Mariano each contributing two goals and two assists. Evan Molloy also starred in net, making 13 saves to bring his total to 27 over the course of two days, while allowing just 15 goals in the tournament.

Salcido opened the scoring on a hard shot from 15 yards after receiving a pass from Barber, but Duke answered right back on its next offensive possession, with Brad Smith finishing a pass from Tripp Transou to even things at one less than six minutes in.

The Orange moved back in front when Barber fired a laser past Danny Fowler on a feed from Donahue to take a 2-1 lead, but Duke's Matthew Giampetroni answered again with 3:09 to play in the first.

'Cuse then answered in transition, as Nick Mellen caused a Blue Devil turnover and Molloy sent a long outlet pass to Donahue, who finished with one second remaining in the period.

Duke opened the second with a Justin Guterding taking a pass from Jack Bruckner to tie it up at three once again, but 'Cuse finally was able to open its first multi-goal lead with Nick Mariano capitalizing for the nation's third-best extra-man unit and Joe Gillis scoring with 7:10 left to lead 5-3.

However, just seven seconds later Kyle Rowe won a faceoff and scored on his own to pull back within one. Derek DeJoe and Brucker traded goals in the final 1:33 of the half to send the teams to the break with Syracuse leading 6-5.

Syracuse scored twice more coming out of the locker room to open the games largest lead at 8-5 with 8:37 left in the third. Mariano and Barber recorded the goals in the span.

Jones halted the Syracuse run with 4:12 to go in the third and Smith buried his second of the afternoon with 57 seconds left in the quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, Barber and Jones traded goals before the game was halted with 7:03 to play.

The final-seven minutes were all-Syracuse, as Donahue, Salcido, DeJoe, Barber and Jordan Evans each buried goals for 'Cuse in the waning moments to seal the victory.

Molloy was named tournament MVP, while Barber, Brandon Mullins, Mariano and Salcido were also named to the All-Tournament team from Syracuse.

The Orange will next return to action next Saturday when the team hosts Colgate.

GAME NOTES: Sergio Salcido tied a career high with six points, his only-other six point game also came against Duke ... Tim Barber scored the eventual game winning goal in today's game. Barber also had the game winner in last year's ACC Championship ... Donahue passed Ryan Powell to move into sole possession of eighth all time at Syracuse with 138 career goals.