Orange Win Sixth Straight to Retain Kraus-Simmons Trophy

Wednesday, April 5

Geneva, NY

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

8-1

Hobart

4-6

Syracuse

Hobart

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

Orange Win Sixth Straight to Retain Kraus-Simmons Trophy

4/5/2017 10:38:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

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The streak of one-goal games came to an end on Wednesday, but the result was still in the Orange's favor. The No. 2 Syracuse men's lacrosse team (8-1, 3-0 ACC) maintained ownership of the Kraus-Simmons Trophy with a 17-11 victory over Hobart (4-6) on Wednesday night at Boswell Field.

Behind a career-best 17 saves from Evan Molloy in net, four goals from Nate Solomon and seven points from Nick Mariano, both of which matched career-highs the Orange captured its fourth straight victory over Hobart, and its 75th in the 104-game series between the two sides.

Molloy's 17 stops made up for the Orange being out-shot 53-31 by the Statesmen. Scott Firman was once again the anchor to the Syracuse defense, holding Hobart's Chris Aslanian scoreless after he entered the game averaging over three points per game.

The Orange also took advantage of all of its man-up opportunities, converting on a perfect 5-of-5

While Sergio Salcido didn't score any goals on the day, he picked up four assists to lead the team in helpers, while Brendan Bomberry (3-0), Brad Voigt (2-0), Jamie Trimboli (2-0), Jordan Evans (1-1), Matt Lane (0-1) and Riley O'Sullivan (1-0) all found the scoring for 'Cuse. For O'Sullivan, it was the first goal of his collegiate career.

The Orange jumped ahead early, winning the opening face-off and holding possession for just 39 seconds before Brendan Bomberry received an open pass from Nick Mariano and scored the game's first goal. Mariano then got one of his own nearly two minutes later, firing an outside shot by Hobart goalie Jackson Brown for his second point of the day.

The Statesmen responded, winning the following possession and scoring just seven seconds later to narrow the early gap. The goal came from Frank Brown, with the assist credited to Matthew Pedicine.

Jordan Evans pushed the Orange lead back to two with 10:45 to play, dodging from behind the cage and netting an unassisted goal on a leaping shot.

With 6:41 to go in the opening period, the Orange proved itself as the nation's sixth-best man-up unit, converting on its first extra-man opportunity with a goal from Brad Voigt, assisted by Matt Lane.

After being held scoreless for over nine minutes, Hobart got back on the board with two straight, first a goal from Bryan Hancock, then Eric Holden to close the quarter on a 2-0 run.

The Orange bounced back with a highlight-reel goal from Nate Solomon, catching a pass from Sergio Salcido and backhanding an acrobatic shot into the net.

Less than a minute later on their second man-up opportunity, the Orange pushed the score to 6-3. Assisted by Matt Lane, Mariano converted on an outside shot to make himself the Orange's first multi-goal scorer of the game.

Solomon then matched the feat, extending Syracuse's lead to four and five within just two minutes. The sophomore scored back-to-back goals to up 'Cuse's lead to 7-3 with 10:41 remaining before halftime.

Ending Syracuse three-goal run, Justin Scott scored Hobart's first goal of the quarter, assisted by Frank Brown and just 12 seconds later, Frank Brown scored again to pull within two.

Scoring his third goal of the quarter, Solomon put the Orange back on the board with 6:14 to go in the half to end the mini Hobart run. Voigt found the back of the net for his second multi-goal game of his career. Evans fed Voigt to pick up the assist and 'Cuse went to the locker room with a 9-5 lead.

The Statesmen came out of the break firing, with Max Romm opening the half with a goal and Frank Brown made it two straight in the following minute, scoring his third goal of the game to further cut the Orange lead.

After losing the following faceoff, Solomon caused a turnover, scooped up the ground ball, and scored to match his career-high of four goals and make the score 10-7 2:30 into the second half.

Scoring back-to-back goals, the Mariano-to-Bomberry connection struck again, as the former found the latter wide open on the crease for the assisted score, allowing 'Cuse to start to pull away.

After a Statesmen goal, Voigt found Mariano on the man up and with 3:17 to play in the third, Mariano again scored on the extra-man opportunity, this time from Salcido, letting 'Cuse head to the fourth with a five goal lead.

The Statesmen scored twice to start the final frame, but a pair of goals from Trimbol and tallies from Bomberry, and O'Sullivan allowed 'Cuse to run away with it and retain the trophy.

Next, SU will play another rivalry that dates back over a century, with the Orange hosting Cornell on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a game to be broadcast on Spectrum Sports.