Coach Quotes - Syracuse vs. Virginia
"We felt going into the game that the team that controlled the faceoffs obviously was going to have more offensive opportunities, and that would be key. Virginia did a tremendous job on its wings. They really did a good job of getting after loose balls and coming up with them to give them those possessions. That kind of slowed our momentum down a little bit."
Coach Desko on SU's success in the first half:
"I really thought Jay Pfeifer was playing a very good game and I thought we were shooting the ball very well. So I think between the saves that Jay was making and us shooting the ball well in the first half, that is what gave us the lead going in at halftime. Then [Virginia] had that run in the third quarter where they generated quite a bit of offense, and we couldn't get the ball back, and when we did we forced it a little bit. We tried to create a little bit too quickly and got caught up in it."
Coach Desko on what makes Virginia/Syracuse such a good rivalry:
"I think it's the style that both teams like to play and that no matter who has the lead or by how much, you feel like you can get back into the game and it's never over until that final whistle goes off. Of all the games played during the year, it's two teams that will go after each other a little bit and push the ball up the field, and if you go a little too quickly and you score something, you're not worried about it because you know they might do the same thing at the other end, as opposed to a game like last week where obviously if the ball was at West Point's end of the field it was going to be there for a long time. Army wasn't going to force the issue where I think these two teams will do that, they'll go to the ball and not worry about it because they are going to get it back."
Coach Desko on whether this loss will be a tough one to bounce back from:
"There is a lot of lacrosse left to play here in March. We have Fairfield coming in next Monday, and then we have Hopkins and Princeton coming up. How can you not get up for teams like that? One thing about coming off a loss is you want to get right back in the saddle and play again to get a "W" under your belt. I hate when a lot of time goes by if there is a loss because I just want to get back out there and play again."
Virginia head coach Dom Starsia on the rivalry:
"There have been so many of them since 1994, you can take your pick in terms of which one has been the best. You almost feel an obligation to play a game like that. I look forward to the day that John (Desko) and I might sit up in the stands and watch Virginia and Syracuse play. I think it would be more fun from that vantage point. I'm anxious before the game. I don't think I've cracked a smile all week. It's such an exciting event to be a part of. You know that the kids are going to get after each other the whole time. I'm really not the slightest bit embarrassed or hesitant to say that it's really a player's game, especially this early one. The coaches don't interfere very much. I think we set the table a little bit and then these two teams just love to play this game against each other. I think it's a good day for college lacrosse when Virginia and Syracuse faceoff against each other."
