Syracuse University
at #12 Hobart
Pfeifer Records Career-High 21 Saves in 13-12 Win at Hobart
3/29/2005 9:52:50 PM | Men's Lacrosse
GENEVA, N.Y. -- Senior goaltender Jay Pfeifer (Towson, Md.) recorded a career-high 21 saves, including a spectacular stop with 1:02 remaining in the contest, to lift No. 8-ranked Syracuse (3-3) to a 13-12 victory against No. 12-ranked Hobart (5-2) in front of 4,001 spectators at McCooey Field. It was the second consecutive victory for the Orange and the 19th straight win in the series with the Statesmen.
The two teams have played one another for the Kraus-Simmons Trophy for each of the past 20 years. The game is named in honor of legendary SU coach Roy Simmons Sr. and Hobart Hall of Fame coach Babe Kraus. The Orange own a 19-1 advantage against the Statesmen during the trophy's 20-year history. Hobart won the first-ever game in the series, 16-13, in a 1986 contest in Geneva.
Freshman attackman/midfielder Greg Niewieroski (Watertown, N.Y.) scored just his second career goal and it proved to be the game-winner with 4:13 remaining in a 12-12 contest. He sent a bouncer past Hobart goaltender Dan Valente.
The game was tight the entire way. The score was tied 3-3 after the first quarter. Every time the Orange tried to pull away in the second quarter, Hobart would counter. SU led by two goals (8-6) with 1:45 remaining in the second period after a Greg Rommel (Syracuse, N.Y.) left-hander landed in the net.
Hobart senior Chris Scanlon pulled the Statesmen to within a goal (8-7) with five seconds remaining in the half. It was the first of two man-up goals for Hobart and was assisted by Daryl Veltman.
In the third quarter, Mike Conklin registered Hobart's second extra-man goal with 1:46 remaining in the period. He was assisted by Veltman and the goal evened the score at 9-9. From there, the Orange went on a small run, capturing a 12-9 lead with three goals during the next 7 minutes, 35 seconds. Senior midfielder Jarett Park (Otisco, N.Y.) scored SU's 10th goal, followed by Rommel's third goal of the night, an outside shot that hit the pipe and rebounded into the Hobart cage.
Sophomore midfielder Steven Brooks (Libertyville, Ill.) netted his career-high third goal of the night, when he scooped up a groundball in SU's defensive end and used his exceptional speed to take the ball coast-to-coast at the 8:45 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Statesmen were quick to respond and did not let Syracuse run away with the game. Alex Jessup found Conklin 43 seconds after Brooks' goal. Scanlon pulled Hobart to within 12-11 with 7:10 remaining, and then helped tie the score at 12-12 when he delivered the ball the Nate Hill's stick with 6:49 left. Hill finished the pass with his third goal of the night.
After Niewieroski's goal with 4:13 left on the clock, Hobart had what seemed to be a sure, game-tying goal with 1:02 remaining, but Pfeifer stuffed Veltman's attempt.
Brooks finished the night with a career-high five points (three goals, two assists). It was his fourth-straight game with at least two points for Syracuse. Rommel tied his personal-best with three goals. He last scored three in a 2004 home contest against Notre Dame. Park finished with two goals and an assist, equaling his personal-bests for both goals and points. Junior midfielder Kieran Murphy (Suffern, N.Y.) netted SU's first goal of the night at the 11:32 mark of the first quarter. It was his first career goal.
Pfeifer's 21 saves moved him into third place on the school's all-time saves list. His 652 career stops moves him ahead of Jason Gebhardt (632), and in position to chase down Tom Nims (692) and Jamie Molloy (766).
SU will look to make it three wins in a row this Saturday, April 2, when it hosts No. 18-ranked Brown at the Dome at 4 p.m. A special guest will be on hand. Football and lacrosse great Jim Brown will be honored on the field at halftime, in recognition of two, new scholarships established in his name.
