Syracuse University
2-0
Albany
0-1
Orange Comes Back From 5 Down to Beat #12 Albany Late
2/18/2017 6:34:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
Nick Mariano scores with 1.6 seconds left to lift the Orange
Syracuse, N.Y. - After falling behind 6-1 in the second quarter, No. 6 Syracuse (2-0) received goals from eight players, capped off by Nick Mariano's game-winning goal with 1.6 seconds remaining to mark the largest comeback since 2013 in a dramatic win. The Orange defeated No. 12 Albany (0-1) 10-9 to pick up their second win of the season.
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Miss the winner? Check out Nick Mariano's game-winning goal with one second left. https://t.co/NP5PdLqxye
— Syracuse Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) February 18, 2017
After being held scoreless for the first 54 minutes of the game, Sergio Salcido and Mariano scored the last three goals for the Orange, pushing the team past the Great Danes in a back-and-forth game which featured four ties and three lead changes in the final 18 minutes of game action.
Evan Molloy made nine saves in the win, including six during a 30:38 stretch in which Albany was held scoreless through portions of the second, third and fourth quarter. During the Great Danes' scoring drought, the Orange went on a six-goal run to eventually take a 7-6 lead.
"I thought it was a very good win for us given the time of year and the kind of game that it was," said head coach John Desko. "To come out on top against a good lacrosse team like this in such a close game made for a good W for us. It was a good learning experience for our group. Obviously being down two goals at halftime, they have to fight and come back against a hot goaltender. It was a good exercise for us and the experience is only going to help us going forward."
Albany struck first in the game, as Kyle McLancy beat Evan Molloy for a fast-break goal. The Great Danes jumped out to a 2-0 lead nearly seven minutes in as Jack Burgmaster scored his lone goal of the day.
The Orange received its first glimmer of offense nearly two minutes later as Brendan Bomberry found his cousin, Tyson Bomberry, cutting down the field to assist a fast-break goal. The goal was the first-of-two scored by long poles on the contest for 'Cuse
Albany would get one more goal in the first, as Eli Lasda ended a long possession with 11.5 to play in the period, putting the Orange down 3-1.
A man-up opportunity for the Great Danes early in the second quarter ended with a goal from Bennett Drake. The goal, which was assisted by Connor Fields, pushed the Albany lead to four.
Less than a minute later, Jakob Patterson extended the lead further, scoring on an assist from Sean Eccles.
Snapping an 11:06 scoreless streak on the following possession, Brad Voigt put the Orange back on the board with his second goal of the season coming on an assist from Salcido.
The Orange then cut the lead to three as Pat Carlin found the back of the net while dodging on the right side for his first goal of the year with 8:01 to play in the half, a score that would stay as the teams headed to the locker room.
The Orange continued its run out of the locker room though, as Matt Lane narrowed the gap to two, scoring off a pass from Salcido just four minutes after play resumed. Jamie Timboli then added his first goal of the season with 3:26 to play in the third period to narrow the gap to one.
Just over a minute later, the Orange completed the comeback, knotting the score at six with its fifth-straight goal. Mariano recorded his only assist of the day, feeding a diving Brendan Bomberry, who collected the pass and scored from right in front of the cage.
Off the ensuing faceoff, just 18 seconds later, Syracuse took its first lead of the day as a fast break lead to a goal from Austin Fusco, assisted by Luke Schwasnick with 2:01 to go in the third.
The Great Danes wouldn't lie down though, as Albany knotted the score at seven with 10:02 to play in regulation to end its drought. Coming from the stick of Eccles, the goal was assisted by Fields.
Albany pulled ahead with 7:35 to go, as Drake scored his second goal of the day, assisted by Patterson.
Nearly two minutes later, Salcido evened the score with his first goal of the season. Bomberry provided the assist for his second of the day.
Moments later, the Bomberry-to-Salcido connection struck again, pushing the Orange out to a 9-8 lead. Salcido ripped a hard shot from the left side that tucked under the bar and was good for his fourth point of the day.
The back-and-forth play would continue though, with Albany tying the game at nine with 3:43 to play. Again, it was Fields to Eccles for the Great Danes.
With the game tied and 1.6 seconds to play, the Orange sealed its come-from-behind effort, as Nick Mariano caught the ball on the left side of the goal and fired an off-balance, fade-away shot past the Albany keeper to give the Orange a 10-9 victory.
The Orange won 15-of-21 face offs against the Great Danes and outshot Albany 45-32. Ben Williams took every faceoff but one for the Orange, going 14-of-20, while Cal Paduda won his only attempt. TD Ierlan took every attempt for Albany.
JD Colarusso stopped 13 shots in cage for the Great Danes during his first action as their net minder.
Syracuse continues its home stretch next Saturday, hosting Army West Point at noon. That game will be broadcast by Time Warner Cable SportsChannel as well as on ACC Network Extra.
Game Notes: The victory was Syracuse's 43rd-straight when holding its opponent to under 10 goals in a game… Ben Williams won 14 of 20 face offs to keep his all-time faceoff winning % against Albany at .697… Williams moved into second place on Syracuse's all-time ground balls list, passing Casey Powell (274), who he entered the game tied with for third, and Jarett Park (278). Williams (280) now sits three behind Joel White (283) for the program's all-time record … Tyson Bomberry and Jamie's goals were the first goals and points of their Syracuse careers … Sergio Salcido's five ground balls were a career-best … Tyson Bomberry also caused two turnovers which was a career-best.
