In Their 100th Match Up the Orange Holds on to Defeat CNY Rival Cornell

SU's Kevin Rice driving against Cornell during Sunday's game at the Carrier Dome

In Their 100th Match Up the Orange Holds on to Defeat CNY Rival Cornell

Story By: Lauren Foti
Pictures by: Lauren Williams

Syracuse, NY-- It is one of the longest college lacrosse rivalries. The matchup between the No. 4 Syracuse Orange(2-0) and the No. 10 Cornell Big Red(0-1) entered in its 100^th year as the Orange hosted the Big Red, Sunday for a 4 p.m. game in the Carrier Dome.

“We talked about it in the locker room before the game," Syracuse attackman Kevin Rice said. "That you don’t get an opportunity to get a top 10 win that often this early in the season.” 

With a matchup this historic both teams came out with aggression. But it was the Orange’s senior attack Randy Staats who got things going in the first quarter scoring the first goal of the contest.

That wouldn’t be Staats only goal either, he along with teammate Hakeem Lecky finished with hat tricks. Kevin Rice,Nicky Galasso, and Dylan Donahue recorded a pair of goals each for the Orange.  

Second Half Action

The Orange led for the entire game heading into halftime with a 6-1 advantage over the Big Red.  The only goal for the first half for Cornell was scored by John Edmonds, he would finish the night with two.

SU's Hakeem Lecky driving on Cornell's Chris Cook

The Orange started the second half with a man-up advantage and capitalized on that play with a goal from Derek DeJoe, within the first 16 seconds of the third quarter.

But the Big Red woudn’t fold that easily. Cornell’s middie Connor Buczek scored on man-up advantage. Buczek finished with a hat trick.

Orange goalie Bobby Wardwell had 10 saves.

"This is a nice one to put on the resume and take advantage of moving forward." Rice said of Sunday's win. 
 

Desko's Historic Win

Coach John Desko also had a history-making game, winning his 200th as a college coach. He is the ninth active Division I coach to reach this milestone. 

"I hadn't really thought about it going into the game," Desko said. "I've been here and worked with Roy Simmons Jr. for 19 years. "When he retired I obviously took over for him and thats great to see him in the stands, I knew his dad very well, Roy Simmons Sr., so its great to be in the ballpark with guys like that."

When asked about what this achievement means to him coming against Cornell, Desko joked about his playing days and the Cornell rivalry back then, but he said it's nice to get back at them growing from a player to a coach.

"To have 200 come on our 100th is pretty cool." Desko said about his historic win as well as the program's. 

What's Next for The Orange

The Orange will be hosting the No. 20 Army Black Knights (3-0) next Sunday Feb. 22 at the Carrier Dome at 7 p.m.