Cavaliers Hold Off Top-Ranked Syracuse 13-12
Story Links
SYRACUSE, NYSecond-ranked Virginia scored six third quarter goals to break a halftime tie and withstood a furious fourth quarter rally by top-ranked Syracuse to defeat the Orange 13-12 before a crowd of 16,565 at the Carrier Dome.
Virginia moves to 5-0 this season and becomes the first team to ever win three consecutive games at the Dome; the Cavaliers also won in 2003 and 2005.
Sophomore midfielder Shamel Bratton scored a career-high four goals to lead Virginia. Attackmen Garrett Billings and Danny Glading each scored three times. The trio combined to score all six Virginia goals in the third quarter.
Billings and John Haldy scored a minute apart to push Virginia’s lead to 13-8 with 7:32 remaining. Syracuse stormed back with the game’s final four goals, including two by Kenny Nims to pull within one with 1:18 remaining.
The Orange claimed the faceoff following Tim Desko’s goal with 1:18 to play. Cavalier defenseman Matt Kelly knocked the ball away from Nims in the final minute and midfielder Max Pomper picked up the loose ball for Virginia. Pomper carried the ball into Virginia’s offensive zone and the Cavaliers called timeout with 15 seconds to play. On the restart, Syracuse was unable to regain possession as time ran out.
Virginia returns to action Tuesday at VMI in Lexington, Va. The game is scheduled to faceoff at 3:30 pm.
Virginia 3-1-6-313 record: 5-0
Syracuse 2-2-2-612 record: 2-1
att16,595
Scoring (G-A) V: Shamel Bratton 4-1, Garrett Billings 3-0, Danny Glading 3-0, Mike Thompson 1-1, Brian Carroll 1-0, John Haldy 1-0, Chris Clements 0-1, Steve Giannone 0-1, Steele Stanwick 0-1. S: Kenny Nims 4-0, Dan Hardy 2-1, Scott Kahoe 2-0, Josh Amidon 1-2, Tim Desko 1-0, Stephen Keogh 1-0, Joel White 1-0, Chris Daniello 0-1.
Goalie SummaryV: Adam Ghitelman 60 mins., 10 saves, 12 goals allowed. S: John Galloway 60 mins., 13 saves, 13 goals allowed.
Shots: V49, S34
Ground Balls: V27, S31
Clearing: V20x22, S23x26
Faceoffs: V17, S12
Penalties: V4-3:30, S2-2:00
EMO: V1x2, S1x4