No. 13 Virginia’s Four-Game Win Streak Snapped at No. 5 Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — No. 5 Syracuse (10-3, 2-1 ACC) took the lead midway through the first quarter and did not look back as the Orange defeated No. 13 Virginia (7-5, 2-1 ACC), 14-9, at the JMA Wireless Dome Saturday afternoon (April 11). Cuse snapped UVA’s four-game win streak and improved to 6-0 in home games this season.

Despite recording double-digit shots in each quarter, the Cavaliers tied their lowest scoring output of the season after shooting just 19.6%. Syracuse goaltender Jimmy McCool played a large part in UVA’s offensive struggles, stopping 16 shots on net.

Virginia attackman McCabe Millon (1g, 4a) tied for a game-high five points alongside Cuse attackman Joey Spallina (2g, 3a). In addition to Millon, Truitt Sunderland (2g, 1a) also contributed three points for the Hoos.

The trio of Andrew Greenspan (9-17 FO), Henry Metz (4-5 FO), and Griff Meyer (4-5 FO) provided a spark for the Cavaliers at the faceoff X, but UVA struggled to convert in transition on the offensive end.

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the 11th time this year, the Cavaliers opened the scoring as McCabe Millon found Ryan Duenkel, who buried a left-handed sidearm shot from the wing. The Orange claimed the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead, a span in which McCool made four saves.

After 15 consecutive missed shots, UVA won the third faceoff of the second quarter, and Robby Hopper fed Brendan Millon, who cranked a shot that flew past the stick-side hip of McCool. Later in the period, it appeared the Orange were on the verge of extending their lead to 6-2, but a Spallina goal was waved off after officials deemed he stepped in the crease. Minutes later, Sunderland scored consecutive goals less than 30 seconds apart to trim the Cuse lead to one (5-4). Sunderland’s second goal came in transition after Hopper corralled a loose ball in Cuse’s offensive zone, which sparked one of the few transition chances for the Hoos.

Both teams traded the next four goals to conclude the half, including two from Ryan Colsey (2g). Colsey’s second came with nine seconds remaining in the first half and cut the Orange’s lead back to one, 7-6.

Defensive lapses proved costly in the third as Cuse recorded the first three goals and ultimately outscored the Cavaliers, 6-3, in the period. The Orange stretched their lead to as many as four goals twice. UVA executed a hidden-ball trick play while man-up, which led to Charles Balsamo’s first career man-up goal as a Cavalier. Then, Brendan Millon scored an unassisted goal—his 25th of the season—to trim the Cuse lead back to two (11-9). However, Cuse effectively erased UVA’s last two goals after scoring back-to-back strikes with under three minutes remaining in the third.

The Cavaliers were held scoreless for the final 18:43. After scoring the final goal of the third, Spallina notched his second of the day on an empty net while UVA attempted to apply maximum pressure with time winding down. McCool made seven of his 16 total saves in the fourth.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Senior attackman Ryan Colsey extended his goal streak to 26 games dating back to last year’s season opener, a span in which he’s totaled 57 goals.
• McCabe Millon, who entered Saturday’s game as the ACC’s leader in points per game, finished with one goal and four assists. He’s now recorded at least four points in 10 of UVA’s 12 games this season.
• UVA finished 17 for 27 at the faceoff X. All three UVA faceoff specialists who took draws – Andrew Greenspan (9-17 FO), Henry Metz (4-5 FO) and Griff Meyer (4-5) – finished above 50%.
• Both teams were precise in the clear. The Cavaliers were 19 for 21 and the Orange were 20 for 21.
• Former Syracuse head coach John Desko, who as a player, assistant coach and head coach, was a part of each of the program's 10 NCAA championships, became the 10th inductee to be enshrined into the Syracuse Ring of Honor. He was recognized at halftime of Saturday’s game.
• During his tenure as Cuse head coach from 1999-2021, Desko faced UVA four times in the NCAA Tournament, including the 1999 championship game – Desko’s first season as head coach – which the Cavaliers won 12-10 in College Park, Md.

UP NEXT
Virginia concludes ACC play next Saturday (April 18), when it hosts North Carolina (10-2, 1-1 ACC), also its penultimate regular-season contest. Opening faceoff from Klöckner Stadium is set for noon on ACC Network Extra and WINA (98.9 FM/1070 AM).