Chiefs Lose Rubber Game against Norfolk Tides

Story by Thomas Zhou
Photos by Jiayang Zhang

Syracuse, N.Y-  Christian Walker’s ground ball single to center scored Chris Parmelee from second, in the top of the ninth to give Norfolk a 2-1 lead. Then Tides pitcher Oliver Drake struck out the side on twelve pitches in the bottom of the ninth and Norfolk (14-13) defeated the Syracuse Chiefs (11-16) in the final game of a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium. The teams had split the first two games.

Both teams' starting pitchers had strong outings. While walking five Chiefs, Mike Wright allowed just one run on three hits and struck out four Chiefs in five innings. Bruce Billings pitched six innings for Syracuse and also allowed only one run on three hits. He struck out three Norfolk hitters and in one stretch retired 13 Tides in a row.

"He did really a good job today," Chiefs manager Billy Gardner said. "… Moving around and changing the beat."


Norfolk strikes, Syracuse answers.

The Tides struck in the top of the first. Nolan Reimold's doubled down the left field line and  Parmelee followed with a single to score him.

The Chiefs responded in the bottom of the second. Matt den Dekker singled to right field. Cutter Dykstra's groundout advanced den Dekker to second and Emmanuel Burriss drove him home with a base-hit.

"You’ve got two outs and one in scoring position," Burriss said. "You pretty much enter an attack mode. Whenever you can get a pitch elevated, you want to go after it."


Syracuse misses opportunities

Syracuse had missed a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. Wright walked  Burriss, the leadoff batter. With one out, Mark Minicozzi singled off Wright's foot, giving the Chiefs runners at first and second.  But Kila Ka'aihue popped out to third in foul territory and Wright then struck out Jason Martinson.

Syracuse had men on first and second again in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ka'aihue walked and Martinson lined a single. But third baseman Michael Almanzar caught den Dekker's line drive and  Dykstra then grounded into a double play.

Norfolk held Syracuse to 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and went 2-for-7 itself.

"We've got some good opportunities but we got trapped on the bases," Gardner said.


Up Next

The Chiefs will have a day off and open another three-game home series against Durham. After a season-long 10-game road trip, the Tides will host Buffalo for a three game set. Both games start at 8 p.m. on Friday.

Early Lead Helps Syracuse Chiefs Complete Sweep against Columbus Clippers

Story by Thomas Zhou
Photos by Jiayang Zhang

Syracuse, N.Y-  A six-run second inning powered the Syracuse Chiefs (10-14) past the Columbus Clippers (11-13) on Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse swept Columbus in the three-game weekend series.

“We came out ready to play,” Chiefs manager Billy Gardner said. “We put up a big number obviously in the second, took some pressure off the pitching, and made some things happen.”

By the time the Chiefs' starting pitcher Taylor Hill allowed the first hit in the top of the fourth, Syracuse already had a 6-0 lead over Columbus.

Leading off the second inning, Ian Stewart lined a single to right field. Jason Martinson followed with a single to left as Stewart stopped at second. Kila Ka’aihue advanced the runners with a groundout to Clippers first baseman Jesus Aguilar before Matt den Dekker ripped a two-run double to put the Chiefs ahead by two.

 

Later, Emmanuel Burriss’ single scored Dan Butler, extending the lead to three. Tony Gwynn, Jr. sent Nick Maronde’s pitch to center field for a base hit. James Ramsey grabbed the ball and tried to cut down Johnson, who was trying to score from second. He misfired and Burriss saw a chance to take third. Catcher Adam Moore’s throw was too high, allowing both Burriss and Gwynn to score. To Gwynn, it was a single turned into a home run.

“It’s kind like a domino effect,” Gwynn said. “One guy has a good bat. Next guy has a good bat. The next thing you know, you score some runs and put some other pressure on the other team. We have been able to do it in the last three games.”

Ramsey hit a home run in the top of fourth to put the Clippers on the board. The ball sailed over the right-field fence. Syracuse answered right away in the bottom of that inning as Burriss’ single scored Butler from second.

Chiefs starting pitcher Taylor Hill retired after six and one-third innings, during which he allowed six hits and two runs while striking out five.

In the top of the seventh, the Clippers' Giovanny Urshela hit a groundball single to center field. Moore smacked a double beyond rightfielder den Dekker’s reach. Carlos Moncrief’s sacrifice fly scored Urshela, cutting Syracuse’s lead to five at 7-2

As a crowd of 2,733 started to chant in the ninth inning, the Clippers made a final rally attempt. Syracuse pitcher Sam Runion walked former Chief Zach Walters, before Urshela singled. Moore sent Runion’s pitch deep to left field. Martinson jumped to attempt the catch but failed as Walters scored. But that was all the Clippers would get.

Evan Meek replaced Runion after one out and got the final two outs to accomplish the save.

“I am happy with the three games,” Gwynn said. “It’s been a slow start, but these last three games we started to pick up a little bit. Just try to add positive momentum.”

Syracuse will host Norfolk for another three-game series next. The first game starts at 7:05 p.m. on Monday.

Slideshow: Chiefs Seal an Early Win over Clippers

Photos by Jiayang Zhang

Syracuse N.Y. - The Syracuse Chiefs completed six runs in the second inning to wrap up a three game sweep of the Columbus Clippers with a 7-3 victory on Sunday afternoon. Here are some photos of the game. Click on any picture to start slide show.

No.1 Orange Survives Colgate Challenge

Story & Photo By Robin Deehan

HAMILTON, N.Y. – In a clash of conference champions, the No. 1 Syracuse men’s lacrosse team held off No. 12 Colgate 9-7 Saturday afternoon at Andy Kerr Stadium to close out regular season play.

ACC winner Syracuse heads into the NCAA tournament with a 12-2 record while Patriot League victor Colgate dropped to 10-5.

“To get a win here today is big for us because it gives us that much more experience,” Syracuse head coach John Desko said. “It was good to come out with a W and gut it out here today.”

A Close First Half

After Colgate jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, Nicky Galasso and Dylan Donahue netted back-to-back goals less than a minute apart to even the score at three.

Donahue along with Randy Staats and Kevin Rice then went on a three-goal scoring run in the second quarter to give the Orange their first lead of the game at 6-5 with 4:49 left to play before the half.

But with just 14 seconds left on the clock, Anthony Abbadessa made a drive to the cage to thread one past SU goalie Bobby Wardwell and even the score back up and send both teams into the locker room tied at six goals apiece.

Second Half Penalties

Colgate’s best chance to pull ahead of Syracuse came in the third quarter when both Rice and Brandon Mullins were sidelined for penalties forcing the Orange to play two men down on their defensive end. 

But Peter Macartney’s outstanding defense allowed him to get a steal and kill the penalty clock to get the game back at even numbers.

“That was a big stop for us," Desko said.  "They tried to skip pass through our four man zone and Macartney picked it off and that gave us a pretty big possession."

Tied at seven at the start of the fourth quarter, senior Nicky Galasso took matters into his own hands scoring off a Staats pass to put the Orange up by one with 8:47 left to play.

Colgate tried to even the score with five minutes remaining but Wardwell stoned a Chase Wittich shot to preserve the Syracuse lead and clear the ball into the Orange offensive end.

On the next play, Galasso found the back of the cage for the third time to put the Orange up 9-7 with under four minutes to play. That proved to be the final dagger in the Raiders' run at an upset as they couldn’t answer in the final minutes.

“It’s a team game and I think everyone is playing well and if it weren’t for the guys on the attack and the midfield line I wouldn’t be getting these opportunities,” Galasso said.  “You have to give everyone the credit even the guys on the sidelines that aren’t playing you have to give them credit too because they are the ones getting us ready for the games.

Playmakers

Ben Williams was superb at the X for the Orange Saturday afternoon picking up 18-of-20 face-offs.

Rice finished with two goals and three assists and Galasso and Donahue tallied three goals apiece for the Orange.

Matt Clarkson of Colgate recorded four points on two goals and two assists, all of them early in the game, and ‘Gate keeper Brandon Burke was phenomenal in goal, turning away 14 Syracuse shots.

Wardwell finished with eight saves in the Orange victory.

Up Next

Syracuse is headed to the 2015 NCAA tournament, seeding will be announced Sunday night.

Loyola Greyhounds Upset ACC Champs, Syracuse 9-8

Story by Lauren Williams
Photos by Jiyang Zhang

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Loyola University women’s lacrosse team continued its winning streak Saturday, downing ACC Champions Syracuse University at the Syracuse Soccer Stadium in both teams’ final regular season game. The No. 16/14 Greyhounds capitalized on turnovers and wide shots from the No. 3/2 Orange to take the game 9-8. It's was the 14th win in a row for Loyola, including taking the Patriot League Championship.

“I guess we talked a good game about it being a playoff type game and, you know, for seedings and or going into the playoffs the right way,” Syracuse head coach Gary Gait said. “I guess, unfortunately, we weren’t up to the task today mentally.”

Loyola’s defense held off the Orange for much of the first half with the first goal of the contest coming almost 14 minutes into the game when senior attack Devon Collins netted her 16^th goal of the season.

“That was a big factor for us coming,” said Loyola head coach Jen Adams. “We spent a lot of time working on our defense and really making sure that when shots were taken, they were earned. I thought that [junior goalkeeper] Molly Wolf was incredible in the cage today, making some key saves and interceptions for us.”

Originally scheduled to take place in Baltimore, Adams and Gait felt it best to move the game to Syracuse because of the unrest in the area.

Loyola’s First Half Run

Instead of the Orange taking control and leading the game for most of the first half, the Greyhounds grabbed shots that hit the post and barreled down the field successfully clearing the ball. They eventually tied it at one each.
 

Then, after Syracuse took a 2-1 lead with 4:11 left in the first half the Greyhounds leapt ahead and ran off three straight goals to take a 4-2 lead into halftime.

Redshirt sophomore midfielder Katrina Geiger tied the game up and 17 seconds later senior attack Hannah Schmitt converted a successful draw control.

Under intense pressure from Loyola’s defense, Syracuse failed to answer. The Greyhounds picked up a ground ball and again barreled down the field. A pass from VanThof found the stick of senior midfield Sydney Thomas, who fired it into the back of the net, stretching the Greyhounds’ lead to two (4-2).

Syracuse Pushback Falls Short

Loyola showed no signs of letting up after scoring within minutes of the second half’s start for a 5-2 lead. The Orange answered quickly however when Syracuse junior attack Halle Majorana netted a goal off the free position.

Both teams continued to trade goals, although senior attack Kailah Kempney captured draw control after draw control giving the Orange more possession time. The Greyhounds kept them at bay never allowing them to close their deficit by two.

“I think we came out unfocused,” Kempney said. “Draws were going more our way and I think that had to do with the rest of the field picking it up in the second half.

With just over three minutes in the game, Syracuse pushed harder to come within one point at 9-8 on a goal by Kayla Treanor. But the with several fouls and two yellow cards within the last minute of play the Orange could not tie the game.

“I hope it’s a good [wake-up call],” Gait said. “I hope it’s something that you don’t forget. You remember to step onto the field to play no matter who you’re playing against.”

Up Next 

Both teams wait to learn where they fit in this year's NCAA Tournament. The selection show airs Sunday night at 9.

Syracuse loses to Loyola to end regular season

Photos by Jiayang Zhang
Syracuse. N.Y-

Despite Kayla Treanor's game-leading three goals, Syracuse fell short on Saturday afternoon to Loyola, 9-8, at home in the regular season finale.

Here is a slide show of today's game. Click on any photo to start slide show.

Syracuse Orange Men ACC Conference Champs!

Story and photo by Robin Deehan
Photo courtesy cuse.com

CHESTER, PA. – The third-seeded Syracuse Orange men captured their first Atlantic Coast Conference championship edging the fourth-seeded Duke Blue Devils 15-14 Sunday afternoon at PPL Park.

The win marked the fifth conference championship for Syracuse in the last six seasons and earned the Orange an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“It was a great game for college lacrosse and we are really excited to come away with a win today,” Syracuse head coach John Desko said.  “My hat is off to Coach Danowski and his team. They are a much different team than we played the first go-around. Much improved. They’ve figured it out and have their people in the right places. They changed things up offensively and defensively. Congratulations to them for making it to the finals of the ACC Championship game.”

“We want to congratulate Coach Desko, his staff, and his students on winning the ACC championship. It’s a great honor and they have a great time and great tradition,” Duke head coach John Danowski said.

First Half Struggles
After Nicky Galasso got the Orange on the board just 39 seconds into the game, the Blue Devils took control going on a six-goal scoring run led by Jack Bruckner, Case Matheis, Tanner Scott and Justin Guterding to end first quarter play with a 6-2 lead.

But the Orange battled back and changed the tide of the game with three quick goals from Hakeem Lecky, Randy Staats, and Derek DeJoe who scored his fourth goal of the season on an extra man opportunity.

Less than two minutes after DeJoe’s man-up goal, Nick Weston evened the score at six on a bouncer between Duke keeper Danny Fowler’s legs.

And the go-ahead goal came from Kevin Rice who attacked the crease from behind the cage for the wrap around.

Two more goals from Dylan Donahue and Staats rounded out a 7-1 second quarter scoring run to send the Orange into the locker room up 9-7.

“I think we got on a little bit of a roll and figured out who they were defensively and what they were doing and, we stopped turning the ball over,” Desko said. “Kevin did a great job with the matchup changes, figuring out who he was being covered by and what kind of move or dodge he would take with that person.”

Second Half Success

48 Seconds into the second half, Bruckner netted his third of the game to bring the Blue Devils to within one.

But two goals from Rice, including a quick stick finisher from a Staats behind the back pass, gave the Orange a two-goal cushion as the third quarter came to a close.

Myles Jones opened fourth quarter scoring but the Orange answered right back thanks to Staats, who dove after a rebound and swatted it in for another SU man-up goal.

With three minutes remaining and down three goals the Blue Devils staged a rally, with back-to-back scores 24 seconds apart from Thomas Zenker and Jones to come within one.

On the ensuing face-off Duke won possession and worked the Syracuse defense but missed four in a row.

With 14 seconds remaining, Matheis took the final shot for the Blue Devils but fired wide.

SU defender Paolo Ciferri won the race to the ball to gain possession as time expired, and Syracuse claimed the ACC title in a 15-14 triumph.

The Orange men are now looking to add another trophy to their 2015 trophy case when NCAA tournament play opens on May 6.

“You want to win every game that you play, especially when there is a trophy on the line, it adds some intensity to the game,” Rice said.  “Playing two games in three days against top six teams is sort of what you will see in the Final Four. To know we can go in and win a game the first day, get our preparation in quickly and get our bodies back and win another game at the end of the weekend is good to know moving forward.”

Playmakers

Although Duke had the advantage in shots, 42-35, and face-offs, picking up 21 to Syracuse’s 11, the game was won on extra man opportunities.

Duke went 0-3 while Syracuse converted three of its four chances in the one goal win.

“The system we were running was working really well,” Staats said.  “We were swinging the ball to the open guy and the back-side guy was open the majority of the time, so we were finding that.”
Tournament most valuable player Rice had seven points on the day with three goals and four assists while Staats and Galasso netted three apiece.

SU keeper Bobby Wardwell recorded eight saves and was named to the All-ACC Tournament team along with Rice, Staats, Galasso and defender Brandon Mullins.

Up Next

The Orange will travel to Colgate Saturday, May 2 to face the Patriot League Conference Champions in the last regular season game.Face-off is scheduled for 3:30pm.