'Cuse Comes Up Short to No. 1 Maryland

Sunday, February 20

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 PM

Syracuse University

1-1

Maryland

3-0

Maryland

Syracuse

2/20/2022 3:23:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Press Conference Highlights Gary Gait Ceremony Roy Simmons Jr. Ceremony Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

Terps win 14-10

Syracuse honored legendary head coach Roy Simmons Jr. and added Gary Gait's jersey to the rafters on a special day for 'Cuse lacrosse fans. The on-field action felt like a heavyweight bout, with two of the three winningest programs in the history of the sport providing counterblows to each other's runs.

Ultimately, No. 1 Maryland's (3-0), five-goal run to start the game was too much for No. 9 'Cuse (1-1) to overcome. The Orange pulled to within one goal at the end of the second and third quarters, but never led and ultimately fell 14-10.

Redshirt junior attackman Tucker Dordevic notched his second-straight five goal, six point performance to lead the Orange offensively, while Lucas Quinn (3-0) scored a hat trick in his return from injury. Bobby Gavin was the star for 'Cuse though, making 11 saves – many of which in difficult situations – to keep Syracuse in it throughout.

Still, the day will be remembered as a historic celebration for two legends of the game.

The Greatest Of All Time.

The Gary Gait jersey is in the rafters forever. pic.twitter.com/JA6uckyNuQ
— Syracuse Men's Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) February 20, 2022

Bigger than lacrosse.

Roy Simmons Jr. has a lasting impact on all his former players. pic.twitter.com/ue1RmO6cy5
— Syracuse Men's Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) February 20, 2022

Anthony DeMaio got the Terps on the board first after the man-down unit for 'Cuse held strong for 59 seconds, but he finally broke through to start a five-goal Terps run.

Maryland was 2-of-4 on the day in man-up situations, while 'Cuse went man-up just once in an extremely physical game.

Jack Brennan notched the Terps' second goal with 6:21 left in the first, before Logan Wisnauskas scored twice at the end of the period to extend Maryland's lead to 4-0.

Wisnauskas led Maryland with five points (4-1) against his former team, while Jonathan Donville (3-1), DeMaio (2-1) and Daniel Maltz (1-2) also posted 3+ points each on the day.

DeMaio's second gave the Terrapins its largest lead with 13:57 left before halftime, but the Orange rallied to cut the lead to one before halftime. Quinn and Dordevic scored back-to-bac goals to give the Orange life in the span of less than a minute.

After Donville scored man-up, Dordevic and Roman Pugliese traded goals to make the score 7-3 with 3:40 left in the second quarter. But that's when 'Cuse got hot. After Dordevic's third goal, Quinn scored twice in 28-seconds to cut the halftime lead to 7-6.

Jakob Phaup was crucial in the run, as he won 15-of-28 faceoffs on the day and collected 11 ground balls.

Kyle Long and Wisnauskas opened the third quarter with the first two goals to push Maryland's lead to three again, but Jackson Birtwistle scored in his collegiate debut and Mikey Berkman beat the horn with two seconds left.

That's as close as 'Cuse would get though, as a 5-2 fourth quarter advantage to give the final result.

There will be no time to dwell on the loss to No. 1 Maryland though, as 'Cuse immediately hits the road on a short week to face co-No. 1 Virginia on Saturday at Noon.

GAME NOTES: Dordevic's five goals tied a career high, which he set last week vs. Holy Cross ... Saam Olexo had a career-high five ground balls ... Jackson Birtwistle's goal was the first of his career.