The Orange celebrated its 15th trip to the NCAA title game with a double-overtime win against Virginia on Saturday.
Memorial Day Showdown: 'Cuse Battles Hopkins for 2008 NCAA Championship
5/25/2008 6:10:08 PM | Men's Lacrosse
FOXBORO, Mass. - Two of the most storied teams in college lacrosse meet for the 2008 NCAA Championship when third-seeded Syracuse (15-2) tangles with fifth-seeded Johns Hopkins (11-5) at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 26 at Gillette Stadium. Both schools are gunning for a record 10th NCAA title and they are the two winningest programs in Division I. The Blue Jays have 882 wins overall. SU is second with 776 all-time victories. That success has translated into the postseason as Hopkins is the NCAA leader in tournament victories (64) and the Orange lists second on that ledger with 56.
Monday’s title game marks the fifth time the Orange and Blue Jays will square off for the ultimate prize and the first time since 1989. The two schools have split the previous four championship game pairings with SU knocking off the Blue Jays, 17-16, in 1983 and 13-12 in 1989. Hopkins prevailed, 13-10, in 1984 and 11-4 in 1985.
The championship game will be broadcast live on the Syracuse ISP Sports Network. Brian Higgins and Kyle Fetterly will have the call on TK-99.5 FM in Syracuse and 1180 WHAM-AM in Rochester. Live streaming audio of the contest can also be found on SUathletics.com via Orange All Access. The game will also be televised nationally on ESPN. SU alum Dave Ryan and former Johns Hopkins goalie Quint Kessenich have the call.
SU CAN BECOME SECOND TEAM TO WIN IT ALL THE YEAR AFTER MISSING PLAYOFFS
The 2008 Orange are trying to become just the second team in NCAA history to win the national championship after missing the postseason the previous year. The only other team to achieve that feat was the 1983 Syracuse Orange. SU went 6-4 in 1982 and failed to make the postseason. The following year, the Orange went 14-1 and rallied from seven goals down in the third quarter to upset Johns Hopkins, 17-16, to win the program’s first NCAA Championship. The 1983 squad will be on hand for a halftime ceremony Monday as the NCAA recognizes the 25th anniversary of that historic unit.
The 2008 Orange are trying to become just the second team in NCAA history to win the national championship after missing the postseason the previous year. The only other team to achieve that feat was the 1983 Syracuse Orange. SU went 6-4 in 1982 and failed to make the postseason. The following year, the Orange went 14-1 and rallied from seven goals down in the third quarter to upset Johns Hopkins, 17-16, to win the program’s first NCAA Championship. The 1983 squad will be on hand for a halftime ceremony Monday as the NCAA recognizes the 25th anniversary of that historic unit.
GALLOWAY CAN JOIN ELITE COMPANY
True freshman goalie John Galloway can add a spectacular final chapter to an already terrific first season if he can help lead the Orange to the national championship. The West Genesee H.S. product is trying to become just the fourth true freshman netminder to lead his team to an NCAA title. Galloway would join Johns Hopkins goalie Quint Kessenich (1987) and Virginia’s Rodney Rullman (1972) and Derek Kenney (1999) as the only players to achieve that feat. SU’s Jay Pfeifer guided the Orange to the national championship in his first year (2002), but he was a redshirt freshman that season.
True freshman goalie John Galloway can add a spectacular final chapter to an already terrific first season if he can help lead the Orange to the national championship. The West Genesee H.S. product is trying to become just the fourth true freshman netminder to lead his team to an NCAA title. Galloway would join Johns Hopkins goalie Quint Kessenich (1987) and Virginia’s Rodney Rullman (1972) and Derek Kenney (1999) as the only players to achieve that feat. SU’s Jay Pfeifer guided the Orange to the national championship in his first year (2002), but he was a redshirt freshman that season.
Galloway owns the NCAA true freshman wins record, notching his 15th of the season in Saturday’s victory against Virginia in the national semifinals. Galloway made nine saves, including two in overtime, to help propel the Orange to the championship game.
ORANGE RALLIES FOR DRAMATIC SEMIFINAL WIN VERSUS VIRGINIA
Syracuse overcame its largest deficit of the season to record a 12-11, double-overtime victory against second-seeded Virginia Saturday. The Orange trailed by five goals with 6:16 remaining in the third period, but out-scored the Cavaliers 8-2 the rest of the way to to advance to Monday’s title game. Senior captain Mike Leveille was superb, tying his career high with seven points (5g, 2a). Leveille notched the game-tying goal with three minutes left in regulation then touched off a wild celebration at the 1:43 mark of the second overtime, firing a low shot past UVA goalie Bud Petit as he was being checked to the ground. Junior midfielder Matt Abbott played a brilliant all-round game, including notching his first career hat trick with three second-half tallies.
Syracuse overcame its largest deficit of the season to record a 12-11, double-overtime victory against second-seeded Virginia Saturday. The Orange trailed by five goals with 6:16 remaining in the third period, but out-scored the Cavaliers 8-2 the rest of the way to to advance to Monday’s title game. Senior captain Mike Leveille was superb, tying his career high with seven points (5g, 2a). Leveille notched the game-tying goal with three minutes left in regulation then touched off a wild celebration at the 1:43 mark of the second overtime, firing a low shot past UVA goalie Bud Petit as he was being checked to the ground. Junior midfielder Matt Abbott played a brilliant all-round game, including notching his first career hat trick with three second-half tallies.
Leveille’s five goals increased his season total to 48, which is tied with Mike Springer (2000) for eighth on SU’s single-season record list.
WORKING OVERTIME
Saturday’s double-overtime win against Virginia was SU’s school-record fourth extra-session game of 2008. The Orange is 3-1 in overtime games this season, including 2-0 in double-OT contests. Syracuse has overtime triumphs this season against Georgetown (March 9), Johns Hopkins (March 15) and the Cavaliers (May 24). It’s only OT loss of 2008 was against Virginia (March 1) in the regular season.
Saturday’s double-overtime win against Virginia was SU’s school-record fourth extra-session game of 2008. The Orange is 3-1 in overtime games this season, including 2-0 in double-OT contests. Syracuse has overtime triumphs this season against Georgetown (March 9), Johns Hopkins (March 15) and the Cavaliers (May 24). It’s only OT loss of 2008 was against Virginia (March 1) in the regular season.
SU-HOPKINS REGULAR-SEASON REWIND
Seniors Steven Brooks and Mike Leveille combined for 10 of the Orange’s 21 points at Johns Hopkins on March 17, including seven of its 14 goals. Brooks tied his career high with a team-best four scores, including the game-winner 37 seconds into overtime. Leveille notched a game-high six points (3g, 3a) in the victory. Leveille’s six-point performance increased his scoring total in five career games against the Blue Jays to 24 points (4.8 ppg). The Orange came back from a 13-10 deficit with less than eight minutes to play, scoring the last four goals of the contest. It was the Orange’s first win at Homewood Field since 1998.
Seniors Steven Brooks and Mike Leveille combined for 10 of the Orange’s 21 points at Johns Hopkins on March 17, including seven of its 14 goals. Brooks tied his career high with a team-best four scores, including the game-winner 37 seconds into overtime. Leveille notched a game-high six points (3g, 3a) in the victory. Leveille’s six-point performance increased his scoring total in five career games against the Blue Jays to 24 points (4.8 ppg). The Orange came back from a 13-10 deficit with less than eight minutes to play, scoring the last four goals of the contest. It was the Orange’s first win at Homewood Field since 1998.
Postgame Press Conference vs. SMU - ACC 1st Round
Tuesday, March 10
Highlights | Syracuse vs. SMU - ACC 1st Round
Tuesday, March 10
Stanchion to Stanchion | Kiyan Anthony
Monday, March 09
Adrian Autry postgame vs. Pittsburgh
Sunday, March 08
