Orange Bests Hopkins, 14-11

Saturday, March 14

Syracuse, NY

2 p.m.

Syracuse University

#6 Johns Hopkins

Matt Abbott had a career-high four points Saturday.

3/14/2009 5:06:25 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score | Quotes | Photos

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Second-ranked Syracuse (4-1) used a balanced offensive attack to defeat No. 6 Johns Hopkins (3-2) in a rematch of last season's national championship game on Saturday, March 14 at the Carrier Dome. The Orange featured nine different goal scorers, including four players with multiple goals.

Senior Matt Abbott collected a career-best four points (2g, 2a) and sophomore Josh Amidon notched his first career hat trick with three scores. Senior Pat Perritt and sophomore Stephen Keogh rounded out SU's multiple-goal scorers. They both had two goals Saturday.

Senior Kenny Nims was the catalyst for the Syracuse attack. He passed out three assists and tied Abbott for team-high scoring honors with four points (1g, 3a), all of which came in the first half.

Syracuse scored six consecutive goals in the span of 10:40 during the first and second quarters to take a 7-3 advantage and gain control of the game. The run couldn't have come at a better time for the Orange as the Blue Jays scored on their first three shots and led, 3-1, after the first six minutes.

Senior Scott Kahoe, Abbott and Nims each recorded two points in the scoring run. Kahoe had a pair of assists and Abbott and Nims each contributed a goal and an assist. Redshirt freshman Tim Desko capped the run with an easy score in transition. The play was set up by freshman Kevin Drew who raced into the box after a Hopkins turnover and dished to Nims who found Desko for the goal with 12:58 to play in the first half.

A score by Kyle Wharton at the 10:33 mark ended the Hopkins scoring drought and cut the SU lead to 7-4. The Orange still led by three, 8-5, at the intermission as the two teams traded tallies in the last half of the second quarter.

Syracuse kept its foot on the gas in the second half, outscoring the Blue Jays, 2-1, in the third quarter and netting the first three goals of the fourth period to take its largest lead of the day, 13-6, with 5:14 to go. Keogh notched back-to-back goals to close the run.

But Johns Hopkins didn't go quietly. The Blue Jays outscored the Orange, 5-1, in the last 4:04 to produce the 14-11 final score. Chris Boland sparked the Hopkins offense with two goals down the stretch and Wharton notched three assists in the scoring spurt.

Faceoffs played a key role in the Blue Jays' comeback as they won eight of the 10 draws in the fourth quarter and owned a 17-12 advantage for the game.

Wharton finished with a game-best five points (2g, 3a). Boland added four (2g, 2a) points for the visitors. Blue Jays' goalie Mike Gvozden made 15 saves in a losing effort.

Syracuse outshot the Blue Jays, 45-34, in the game, and held a 29-9 advantage in shots during the first half. The Orange also won the ground ball battle, 30-22. Sophomore Joel White collected five ground balls to lead the Orange in that category.

Syracuse continues its homestand on Saturday, March 21 when it hosts Binghamton at the Carrier Dome. Faceoff is slated for 2 p.m. on Time Warner 26.

Game Notes: The win was the Orange's third straight against the Blue Jays, equaling its longest winning streak in the series … Syracuse also won three consecutive games against Johns Hopkins from 1986 to 1988 … Nims extended his point-scoring streak to 21 games … Senior Spencer Van Schaack scored his first goal of the season in the second quarter … Kahoe's two assists were a personal best … He also established a career high with 10 faceoff attempts … Sophomore Tim Harder set career highs in both faceoffs won and attempted, going 7-for-14 at the X … Members of Syracuse's 1989 NCAA Championship team were recognized at halftime … The 1989 Orange finished the season 14-1 and defeated Johns Hopkins in the national title game, 13-12.