Orange captains Neil Alt (8) and Bill Dirrigl (44) celebrate in the Carrier Dome after winning the 1988 national title.
1988 NCAA Champs Celebrate 25 Years
5/26/2013 2:58:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
PHILADELPHIA -- As part of a program that honors past national champions, the 1988 Syracuse men's lacrosse team will be recognized by the NCAA in an on-field ceremony at halftime of tomorrow's title game between the Orange and the Duke Blue Devils. The ceremony commemorates the 25-year anniversary of the Orange's second NCAA national championship.
Led by head coach Roy Simmons Jr. and team captains Neil Alt and Bill Dirrigl, Syracuse went 15-0 in 1988 to become the first undefeated champion since Johns Hopkins in 1984. The Orange put together one of most dominant seasons in the sport's history, averaging a then- NCAA record 17.4 goals per game while giving up just 7.9 goals per contest.
Syracuse went 12-0 in the regular season, including wins over seven ranked opponents. In the NCAA Tournament, the Orange defeated three more ranked teams, beating Navy, Penn and Cornell at the Carrier Dome to complete its championship run.
The team featured eight All-Americans, including first-team selections Gary Gait, Paul Gait and John Zulberti. Gary Gait tallied 87 points to lead the Orange in scoring, including a then-NCAA record 70 goals. He was named the 1988 USILA Midfielder of the Year and national player of the year for his performance. In addition, he unveiled his now famous "Air Gait" by leaping from behind the cage and dunking the ball underneath the crossbar twice against Penn in the national semifinals.
Goalie Matt Palumb anchored the defense. Palumb was named the NCAA Championship's Most Outstanding Player after making 21 saves in the Orange's 13-8 victory versus Cornell in the title game.
Led by head coach Roy Simmons Jr. and team captains Neil Alt and Bill Dirrigl, Syracuse went 15-0 in 1988 to become the first undefeated champion since Johns Hopkins in 1984. The Orange put together one of most dominant seasons in the sport's history, averaging a then- NCAA record 17.4 goals per game while giving up just 7.9 goals per contest.
Syracuse went 12-0 in the regular season, including wins over seven ranked opponents. In the NCAA Tournament, the Orange defeated three more ranked teams, beating Navy, Penn and Cornell at the Carrier Dome to complete its championship run.
The team featured eight All-Americans, including first-team selections Gary Gait, Paul Gait and John Zulberti. Gary Gait tallied 87 points to lead the Orange in scoring, including a then-NCAA record 70 goals. He was named the 1988 USILA Midfielder of the Year and national player of the year for his performance. In addition, he unveiled his now famous "Air Gait" by leaping from behind the cage and dunking the ball underneath the crossbar twice against Penn in the national semifinals.
Goalie Matt Palumb anchored the defense. Palumb was named the NCAA Championship's Most Outstanding Player after making 21 saves in the Orange's 13-8 victory versus Cornell in the title game.
Postgame | #7 Syracuse at #19 Penn
Monday, March 02
HIGHLIGHTS | #7 Men's Lacrosse at #19 Penn
Sunday, March 01
HIGHLIGHTS | #7 Men's Lacrosse at #10 Princeton
Saturday, February 28
Postgame | #7 Syracuse at #10 Princeton
Saturday, February 28
