Syracuse takes down North Carolina to advance to men’s lacrosse Final Four

HEMPSTEAD, New York – There is a common saying in sports that it’s hard to beat a team three times. 

In the regular season meeting between Syracuse and North Carolina’s Men’s Lacrosse team, the Orange fell to the Tar Heels 14-9 and then again 12-10 in the ACC Tournament semifinals only two weeks ago.

But the No. 3-seeded UNC would not score the trifecta on Saturday as the No. 6-seed Syracuse would prevail 13-11 in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.

The first 14 minutes at Hofstra’s James M. Shuart Stadium were a battle of goalies as both teams were held scoreless with stellar defense on both sides.

With over a minute to go in the first quarter, UNC’s Peter Thomann struck first with a goal off a SU turnover. 

But it took only 10 seconds for the Orange to respond with a strike from faceoff specialist John Mullen. The junior went over 50% at the dot and added another goal going against two-time first-team All-American Brady Wambach.

“[Mullen] has been working really hard on being dialed in and focused to be in a good spot to make a run in the playoffs,” SU head coach Gary Gait said. “One-on-one against one of the best faceoff guys in the country, just shows you what John Mullen is capable of when he is dialed and focused.” 

The offense for both squads picked up in the second quarter with two straight goals from the Tar Heels. The Orange responded with a strike from freshman midfielder Bogue Hahn, but UNC would make it a 6-2 game with five minutes left in the first half. 

Syracuse’s seniors would not let up to finish the half. Senior attack Joey Spallina fed midfielder Luke Rhoa for a goal to cut the deficit to three, with Mullen adding another just six seconds later to make it 6-4. With over a minute left in the second quarter, Spallina found senior attack Finn Thomson to make it a one-goal game at the break.

It was all Orange in the second half thanks to a dominant performance from Spallina, as the program’s all-time leading scorer made even more history, becoming the school’s all-time assist leader with 188. Syracuse killed off a penalty while down two players to start the third quarter before Spallina tied the game with his first of the contest. 

SU scored two more goals to extend its lead before UNC answered with two of its own to make it 9-8 at the end of the third quarter. 

Both squads traded goals to knot the game at 10 before Spallina broke through to make it 11-10 with a shot into the bottom left corner. Spallina then found Thomson his right-hand man to make it 12-10. The scoring didn’t stop for Spallina, as the Long Island native added another goal to extend the lead to three, finishing the day with a hat trick and three assists. 

Spallina, who hails from Mount Sinai about an hour from the lacrosse stadium, reflected on returning to familiar turf.

“You know, just to be out there with the PA guys’ voice stuck in my head,” Spallina said. “I am 3-0 here and actually never won at this place in high school. 

“This week just felt different. It felt like more of a home game with all my family here.”

Syracuse advances to its second straight championship weekend for the first time since 2009, when it won its most recent national championship. 

Gait said he credits the SU’s seniors, one of the highest-rated recruiting classes in 2022 and who combined for 13 points Saturday, with restoring the Orange to national title consideration.  

“You know it took a couple years from putting together a coaching staff and taking over the program five years ago,” Gait said. “Obviously, we were 4-10 in year one, and it was tough. From then on, we have been in the mix, and now we are relevant again. 

Syracuse will face No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, in the semifinal match at a time still to be announced.