Syracuse University
#13 Johns Hopkins
3/18/2006 4:05:43 PM | Men's Lacrosse
BALTIMORE, MD. -- Sophomore attackman Kevin Huntley tied his career-high with five goals as #13-ranked Johns Hopkins (3-2) defeated #10 Syracuse (1-3) at Homewood Field. Huntley tallied three goals in a decisive first quarter in which the Blue Jays got off to a 3-0 start and outscored the Orange, 7-1. It is the second-straight season that SU has lost three of its first four games to Virginia, Georgetown and Hopkins.
The Blue Jays led by as many as seven goals, 8-1, when Brian Christopher found the back of the net with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter. Sophomore midfielder Paul Rabil, who recorded five goals against the Orange last season, scored three of his four markers this year in the first quarter.
Syracuse had to contend with an experienced Hopkins face-off unit, led by senior Greg Peyser. The Blue Jays controlled possession at the X with 18-of-26 wins for the game. The Orange was put at a disadvantage in the first quarter when sophomore face-off specialist and defensive midfielder John Carrozza took a hard hit coming back to catch a pass on a clear attempt. He left the game with a head injury and did not return.
SU gained some confidence right before halftime when senior attackman Brett Bucktooth buried a pass from Brian Crockett on a man-up opportunity to pull the Orange within five goals, 8-3. Also in the first half, freshman midfielder Dan Hardy had a goal and an assist.
Syracuse managed to cut Hopkins' lead to three goals twice in the second half. After the Blue Jays increased its lead to 10-3 with 8:35 remaining in the third period, the Orange tallied four-straight goals, including two by Mike Leveille, to creep back within three, 10-7, with 1:45 left in the third quarter. Joe Yevoli had a hand in three of the goals. He assisted on both of Leveille's markers and then scored himself on a pretty move from behind the cage. He changed direction, froze his defender, and rolled around the cage to slip a low shot past Hopkins goaltender Jesse Schwartzman.
With the momentum in SU's favor, Huntley took some of the air out when he was in the right place at the right time on a Hopkins ride. SU goaltender Peter Coluccini had control of the ball and was looking to make a pass upfield on a clear. The ball whiffed out of his stick and fell at the feet of Huntley who promptly picked it up and deposited it into an open net.
With 11 seconds left in the third quarter, junior defenseman Steve Panarelli was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and Hopkins went into the fourth quarter with an 11-7 advantage and an extra-man opportunity.
Crockett pulled SU within three goals a second time, 11-8, when he finished a man-up pass from Bucktooth with 10:39 remaining in the contest.
Peyser registered a big goal with a blast to the upper left corner from about 14 yards out with 9:28 remaining to give the Blue Jays a 12-8 advantage. Huntley added one more at the 7:12 mark.
Yevoli used another low shot from behind the cage to make it 13-9 with 6:43 remaining, but Rabil scored goal No. 4 with 1:36 on the clock to seal Hopkins' fourth consecutive win against the Orange at Homewood Field.
Leveille was SU's leading scorer with three goals and an assist. Yevoli finished with two goals and two assists, while Bucktooth added two goals and one assist.
Coluccini finished with 11 saves. He had seven saves in the second half. Schwartzman ended up with nine saves for the Blue Jays.
Syracuse has 10 days off to regroup before its next game, at home against Hobart on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m.
