Full Team Effort Leads ‘Cuse Over Hofstra

Tuesday, March 14

Hempstead, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Syracuse University

4-4

Hofstra

2-5

Syracuse

Hofstra

3/14/2023 9:10:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Syracuse University men's lacrosse team picked up a full-team win on Tuesday night, fighting through cold and blustery conditions to knock off Hofstra 16-8 at Shuart Stadium.

Syracuse (4-4) snapped a four-game slide thanks to 10 different point scorers. Saam Olexo scored the goal of the game, beating the first-quarter buzzer from midfield. Joey Spallina finished with seven points (4g, 3a) while Owen Hiltz chipped in six points (3g, 3a). Will Mark made 13 saves in net for the Orange.

The Orange were nearly perfect in clears with a 19-of-20 success rate while the ride was highly effective, allowing Hofstra just 10 clears on 16 chances.

How it Happened

Hofstra, coming off a 10-day rest period, jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game.
Syracuse's offense sprung into action with three goals in a three-minute span, braced by a pair from Jackson Birtwistle. Hiltz, Finn Thomson, and Spallina accounted for the assists.
The Pride scored with 1:16 to play in the first quarter, what proved to be their last marker of the half.
Syracuse closed the quarter with two goals in the final nine seconds as Michael Leo hammered home his first on a feed from Spallina. That set up a Pride faceoff violation that was picked up by 'Cuse faceoff man Johnny Richiusa. The Rochester native passed to Olexo at the X, who than stuck the buzzer beater for a 5-4 Orange lead.
The Orange struck twice in the second quarter, first from Thomson on a Hiltz feed before a solo effort from Alex Simmons for a 7-4 Syracuse lead at the break.
Syracuse's offense continued to roll while the defense locked down Hofstra. The Orange potted three more goals in the first six minutes of the third from Spallina, Griffin Cook and Owen Hiltz in succession.
Hofstra ended a scoreless drought of more than 20 minutes with a goal at 9:11 of the third, the first Pride tally since 1:16 of the first.
Spallina got his second of the quarter near the midway point on a Hiltz man-up feed. Thomson then finished a dish from Spallina with 5:47 to play in the third with Syracuse on top 12-6.
Leo banged home another goal, his fourth multi-goal game this season, but the Pride scored 20 seconds later.
Syracuse scored three of the final four goals in the game, including a pair from Spallina and once from Hiltz. Cole Kirst assisted on the first two while Simmons fed Spallina on the final goal of the game.

Behind the Numbers

Hofstra out-shot the Orange 51-48, but Syracuse put 28 of those chances on goal.
Mark made 13 saves for the Orange while his counterpart, Mac Gates, stopped a dozen Syracuse chances.
The Orange man-down unit navigated a busy day, allowing just two power-play goals on eight chances. Syracuse's man-up was slow to start, missing chances on the first two Hofstra penalties of the game, but finished with three goals on the next three opportunities.
Tuesday's game was the second seven-point effort for Spallina, who managed the same point total against Holy Cross (Feb. 12). His seven points are tied for the 10th-most by a Syracuse freshman in a single game.

Up Next for Syracuse

The Orange return to the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday, March 21 to open a two-game week. Syracuse hosts St. Bonaventure in the first-ever meeting between programs.
Opening faceoff is set for 6 p.m, on ACC Network Extra. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets