Syracuse vs. Princeton TIGERS CLAIM NCAA CROWN BY EDGING ORANGE IN OVERTIME, 10-9
5/28/2001 10:49:40 AM | Men's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Princeton's B.J. Prager spoiled a dramatic Syracuse comeback, scoring with 41 seconds remaining in the first overtime to secure the NCAA Division I men's lacrosse championship, 10-9.
Trailing 8-4 heading into the fourth quarter, the Orangemen mounted a furious rally. Junior midfielder Spencer Wright (San Diego, CA/Junipero Serra) sandwiched two goals around tallies by freshman attackman Michael Powell (Carthage, NY/Carthage) and junior midfielder Brian Solliday (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage), all in a seven-minute span, to tie the contest at 8-8.
Princeton (14-1) regained a one-goal lead with 6:13 left and held on until the final seconds of regulation. The Orangemen cleared out for Powell and he found the net with 16 seconds on the clock to send the contest into sudden-death overtime.
Both teams had possessions before Princeton claimed the title in the extra session.
Syracuse was held scoreless in the first quarter, the first time this season the Orangemen had been blanked in the opening period.
The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 advantage, equaling the largest deficit the Orange had faced this season. Solliday ended the SU scoreless drought, finding the net 1:44 into the second period.
At the intermission, the Tigers held a 5-3 advantage. Princeton limited Syracuse to its lowest halftime output of the campaign.
Fifth-year senior goaltender Rob Mulligan (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) finished with 14 saves in his final game for the Orangemen. He ends his career ranked fourth all-time in saves at Syracuse with 626.
SU finished the 2001 season with a 13-3 record. The program's all-time win-loss record stands at 699-275-15. The Orangemen, who will return nine of 10 starters next year, have to wait until 2002 to notch the program's 700th all-time victory.
Sophomore attackman Michael Springer (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) and junior defenseman John Glatzel (Ellicott City, MD/Boys' Latin) joined Powell and Mulligan on the NCAA All-Tournament Team. With four goals and four ground balls, Prager was selected as the 2001 Most Outstanding Player.
NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship Game
Monday, May 28, 2001
Rutgers Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Scoring by quarters:
Syracuse 0-3-1-5-0=9
Princeton 3-2-3-1-1=10
Syracuse Goals: Brian Solliday 2, Pat Hogan 2, Spencer Wright 2, Michael Powell 2, Josh Coffman 1.
Syracuse Assists: Spencer Wright 2, Michael Powell 2, Liam Banks 1, Tom Hardy 1.
Princeton Goals: B.J. Prager 4, Brad Dumont 2, Matt Striebel 2, Owen Daly 1, Rob Torti 1.
Princeton Assists: Ryan Boyle 3, Matt Striebel 2, Dan Clark 1.
Shots: SU 48, Princeton 34
Saves: Rob Mulligan (SU) 14, Trevor Tierney (PU) 14
Faceoffs: SU 12, Princeton 10
Groundballs: SU 57, Princeton 56
Clears: SU 22-30, Princeton 22-31
Extra-Man: SU 2-5, Princeton 1-2
Penalties: SU 2/1:00, Princeton 5/3:00
Attendance: 21, 286
