#2 Syracuse Orange Shows Pure Dominance over #5 UVA Cavaliers in ACC Opener

Story By: Lauren Foti

Photos By: Lauren Williams

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The #2 Syracuse Orange (4-0) played host to the #6 University of Virginia (3-1) Cavaliers in a noon showdown Sunday at the Carrier Dome and wound up dominating the Cavaliers from the start. The matchup between the two teams was the first ACC game of the season for both teams.

First Half Action

The Orange’s Nicky Galasso was the first to strike and that set the tone for the entire first half. The Orange dominated on the field, leading the Cavaliers 7-0 at one point in the game and outshooting the Cavaliers 26-12 in the first half.

“Just a complete effort to have the score the way it was in the first half, I think any coach in the country would be happy with that effort.” SU head coach John Desko said.  

It wasn’t until just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter that UVA’s Greg Colohan scored his team's first goal. But the Orange was quick to answer back with a goal of its own. The Orange led the Cavaliers 8-1 at halftime.

“It felt a little bit like men and boys out there at times," Virginia Head Coach Dom Starsia said. "You go into a game like that thinking that you want to stay out of the penalty box and do all the little things, and we weren’t able to accomplish those things.”

Second Half Action

In the second half a pair of Virginia goals got the Cavaliers within six. But the Orange always seemed to have answer for Virginia. Not allowing the Cavaliers to get any closer than that.

The Orange’s lead faceoff man Ben Williams won 15-19 face
offs before suffering an upper body injury during the fourth quarter.

“I expect to see him next week.” Desko said after the game.

With Williams out for the rest of the game, it gave the Cavaliers a spark on face-offs leading them to more goals.

“We need to continue to work at it, and figure it out, and not have it be a determining factor in the game.” Starsia said of face-offs and the team's struggle at the X.

Despite the Cavaliers best effort in the second half. It was the Orange that continued to dominate the game.  The Orange went on to win 15-9.

Total Team Effort

For the Orange although faceoffs and possessions were the biggest factors in the game, even players who don't get much game time got some credit. 

“We prepared everything during practice during the week and you know you got to give the credit to a lot of people who don’t get the credit and that’s the scout defense.” senior Nicky Galasso said.

Eight Syracuse players scored with Galasso, Kevin Rice, and Dylan Donahue tallying hat tricks.

The Orange on the Road

The Orange will play against St. John’s on March 7 in Kennesaw, Georgia at 1 p.m. This is SU’s first game away from the Carrier Dome this season.