Syracuse Smashes Siena in Season Opener

Story by Thomas Zhou
Photos by Lauren Williams

Syracuse, N.Y-
After an intense first five-minute stretch during which Syracuse and Siena each scored once, the Orange took control of the game and ran away with it Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome.

The fourth-ranked Syracuse men’s lacrosse team (1-0) beat Siena (0-1), 21-7, in the season opener. The victory was head coach John Desko’s 199th career win in his 17 years at Syracuse. 

Making his mark at the X

The Orange showed a variety of strengths in front of a crowd of 2,740, highlighted by Holy Cross transfer Ben Williams' performance. The sophomore faceoff expert dominated at the “X” against Siena players including Casey Dowd, the reigning MAAC Faceoff Specialist. Williams won 17-of-20 face-offs and Syracuse won 25-of-30. Backup Cal Paduda won five of seven for the Orange.

“The guy next to me here did a terrific job in the center of the field,” Desko said at the postgame press conference, referring to Williams. “Not only coming up with the ball but making good decisions after he did. Now that he has the highest shooting percentage on the team. It is a good thing, too.”

Williams does have the highest percentage as he converted his only shot in the game. After redshirt junior attack Dylan Donahue too advantage of a man-up opportunity to give the Orange a 3-1 lead on a Kevin Rice assist, Williams added another point for Syracuse eight seconds later. He won the face-off against Dowd, rushed to the attack area and found the back of the cage. It was his first goal at Syracuse.

“Just sprang down the field and slid,” Williams said. “Saw the window and let it go. It felt good. Felt good.”

Sharing the scoring

Thirteen players scored in the game, led by Donahue who had four goals. Kevin Rice, an Inside Lacrosse’s preseason All-American first team selection, contributed two goals and four assists. Midfielder Hakeem Lecky finished with one goal and four assists. 

Siena scored a pair of goals in the first three minutes into the second quarter but could not keep the momentum after cutting the lead to 6-3. Syracuse then scored seven points in a row, easing whatever worries the crowd at the Dome might have had.

By the end of the third quarter, Syracuse had expanded its lead to 15-6, despite a goal by the Saints with 1.2 seconds left in that quarter. 

Redshirt freshman Ryan Simmons scored his second goal of the game 25.2 seconds before the end, sealing the victory for Syracuse, who outshot Siena, 50-23 and won the ground ball battle by 23.

Next: Big Red

Syracuse will host traditional rival Cornell at the Dome next Sunday. The game is scheduled to begin at 4p.m. It's the season opener for Cornell which is ranked No. 8