May Memories: Orange Miraculous Comeback Sends Orange to Title Game
5/25/2020 8:24:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Syracuse made its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament semifinals in 2012. The Orange first advanced to the Final Four in 2008 and then again in 2010. Both of those trips ended in the semifinals. Syracuse produced a different outcome in 2012, and it took a miraculous comeback to get it done.
A Michelle Tumolo goal with five seconds remaining against North Carolina in the quarterfinals sent the Orange to the semifinals where they faced No. 1 Florida. Syracuse had never defeated the nation's top-ranked team in 15 previous tries. The Gators scored with 17:15 remaining in the second half as they matched their largest lead of the day at 12-5.
Freshman Devon Collins started Syracuse's comeback when she scored on an assist from junior Linley Block off a clearing attempt. Tumolo and sophomore Alyssa Murray followed with unassisted goals to cut the deficit to 13-8 at the 7:49 mark. Shannon Gilroy briefly halted Syracuse's scoring run with her fifth goal of the night with 7:19 on the clock, which put the Gators back up by five, but that would be Florida's final goal of the game.
Holden and Murray accounted for the final five goals of regulation, and Holden's free position goal with 30 seconds remaining tied the score at 13-13. The Orange had a chance to win the game with 11 seconds remaining, but Gators' goalkeeper Mikey Meagher stopped Tumolo's free position shot to force overtime.
After neither team scored in the first three-minute session of overtime, Florida appeared to have recorded the go-ahead goal with nine seconds remaining in the first extra session, but it was disallowed due to an illegal stick. The Orange regained possession and ran out the clock to force a sudden-death second overtime period.
Freshman Kailah Kempney won the draw to give the Orange possession. Syracuse took the ball into its offensive zone and Holden worked the ball around the right side and put a low bounce shot past Meagher for the game-winner.
Two days later, the Orange lost to 2 Northwestern, 8-6, in the title game. Syracuse returned to the championship again in 2014.
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A Michelle Tumolo goal with five seconds remaining against North Carolina in the quarterfinals sent the Orange to the semifinals where they faced No. 1 Florida. Syracuse had never defeated the nation's top-ranked team in 15 previous tries. The Gators scored with 17:15 remaining in the second half as they matched their largest lead of the day at 12-5.
Freshman Devon Collins started Syracuse's comeback when she scored on an assist from junior Linley Block off a clearing attempt. Tumolo and sophomore Alyssa Murray followed with unassisted goals to cut the deficit to 13-8 at the 7:49 mark. Shannon Gilroy briefly halted Syracuse's scoring run with her fifth goal of the night with 7:19 on the clock, which put the Gators back up by five, but that would be Florida's final goal of the game.
Holden and Murray accounted for the final five goals of regulation, and Holden's free position goal with 30 seconds remaining tied the score at 13-13. The Orange had a chance to win the game with 11 seconds remaining, but Gators' goalkeeper Mikey Meagher stopped Tumolo's free position shot to force overtime.
After neither team scored in the first three-minute session of overtime, Florida appeared to have recorded the go-ahead goal with nine seconds remaining in the first extra session, but it was disallowed due to an illegal stick. The Orange regained possession and ran out the clock to force a sudden-death second overtime period.
Freshman Kailah Kempney won the draw to give the Orange possession. Syracuse took the ball into its offensive zone and Holden worked the ball around the right side and put a low bounce shot past Meagher for the game-winner.
Two days later, the Orange lost to 2 Northwestern, 8-6, in the title game. Syracuse returned to the championship again in 2014.
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