Depth Keys 'Cuse in Opening Scrimmage

The depth of the Syracuse men's lacrosse team was on full display Saturday in the team's first closed scrimmage of 2018.

While the Orange starters jumped out to a 3-0 lead over Vermont, the two teams battled in the early going, before shining moments from the Orange reserves catapulted 'Cuse past the Catamounts 14-7 through four quarters. Syracuse also dominated in the extra 15-minute session, outscoring Vermont 7-1 in the fifth as well.

Through the regulation four quarters, Matt Lane was the Orange's leading scorer, contributing five points on two goals and three assists. He also added one of each in the extra frame. Jamie Trimboli (2-1) and Stephen Rehfuss (2-1) added three points each, while 'Cuse also got scoring from Nate Solomon (1-0), Ryan Simmons (1-0), Peter Dearth (1-0), David Lipka (2-0), Bradley Voigt (1-0), Brendan Curry (1-0), Troy Lauder (1-1), Sam Romano (0-1), Dami Oladunmoye (1-0) and Spencer Small (0-1) in regulation.

Danny Varello took the bulk of the faceoffs, winning 8-of-14, while Nick Martin (5-of-9) and Nate Garlow (1-of-1) did good jobs spelling Varello as well.

In net, Dom Madonna played the first two quarters, making six saves. Drake Porter played the third quarter stopping five of the six shots he saw, while Luke Strang played the fourth and made three saves on four shots.

The early scoring came from the Syracuse midfield units. Less than a minute into play, Tucker Dordevic found Jamie Trimboli who ripped it past the Vermont net minder. Lane then setup the next-two scores on man-up chances, with Simmons and Solomon serving as the benefactors of Lane assists.

First quarter ??

Cuse out to a 3-0 lead in a heir first scrimmage pic.twitter.com/zWJutm3nM5
— Syracuse Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) January 21, 2018

Vermont scored four in a row to open the second, before Lane evened things up with 3:02 left before the third.

After a fifth UVM goal in the frame, Trimboli buried a feed from Rehfuss to tie things up at five before the break.

After that, it was all Cuse, out-scoring Vermont 9-2 in the next-30 minutes. Dearth, Rehfuss (twice), Lipka and Lane scored in the third, before Lipka, Curry, Lauder and Oladunmoye tacked on goals in the fourth.

In the fifth quarter, Garlow won 5-of-9 faceoffs and Willie Klan III made three saves in net, allowing just one goal. Brad McKinney led the way in the session, scoring a goal and chipping in two assists, while Lauder added two assists and Lane contributed a goal and an assist. Jack Fiorini, Jacob Buttermore, Lipka and Pat Carlin also scored in the frame.

Syracuse will have closed scrimmages in each of the next-two weekends before opening the season on Feb. 10 in the Carrier Dome.