Trinkaus scores game winner in the final second of fourth OT

It was looking like four overtimes wouldn’t be enough. After a fourth quarter that saw five total scores, Syracuse lost a three-goal lead. Neither team had a clean look through the first three overtime periods. Then, sophomore attacker Caroline Trinkaus, who already notched two scores in regulation, came through with the decider with just a second to go in the fourth overtime.

“A lot of emotions,” Trinkaus said after the game. “I’ve never been in a game like that. Everyone on my team was in the back of my head… Their defense had been making a lot of stops so we just had to finish it there.”

Syracuse (12-3, 7-2) took down Notre Dame (11-4, 5-4) 10-9. It marked the Orange’s 12th straight win and fourth one-score victory of the season. The Cardiac ‘Cuse has registered single-tally victories over Yale, Virginia, Duke and Notre Dame.

“We’re fortunate to come out with a win there,” Syracuse head coach Regy Thorpe said. “Hats off to Notre Dame. They came out really tough today. We knew we were going to get a great game from them.”

Syracuse nearly lost its senior-day victory. Notre Dame controlled draws 18-6, tallied four free-position goals to SU’s none and led the shots category 28-24.

“That was a great lacrosse game for fans to watch, probably not to coach,” Thorpe said. “Fortunately and unfortunately, someone has to win and lose in those overtimes. We both had chances, both defenses stood on their head, and their goalies made some saves.”

Notre Dame struck first off the stick of Charley Bacigalupo less than four minutes in. Shortly after, Kate Timarky added another score for the Irish, but goals by junior attacker Ashlee Volpe and senior attacker Gracie Britton ensured a tie after the first quarter.

Syracuse went through a near-15-minute drought from Britton’s goal at the end of the first to its next in the second. The Orange allowed Maura Irish and Madison Rassas to score in the initial five minutes of the period before senior midfielder Emma Muchnick tallied the lone goal for SU in the frame.

Finally, Timarky scored the first strike of the third, but a late quarter SU onslaught by sophomore midfielder Mileena Cotter, sophomore midfielder Bri Peters, senior attack Mackenzie Rich, and Volpe gave the Orange the lead.

In the fourth, the Orange scored the first two goals to extend the advantage to three, but the Irish battled back with three goals in the final seven minutes.

“We have to close teams out,” Thorpe said. “We were up 9-6. That’s been like the last few games where we’re up two or three goals and have a chance to put the nail in and we make a mistake.”

Syracuse missed seven shot attempts in the overtime periods before Trinkaus netted the game-winner. The sophomore missed an attempt with 20 seconds to go before graduate midfielder Courtney Maclay had a crucial ground ball pickup with 15 seconds left in the fourth overtime.

“This team doesn’t give up, they’re resilient,” Thorpe said. “Whether it’s one goal or ten goals, there are a lot of things we could do better, but we fought and showed a lot of grit.”

Thankfully, Syracuse captured its 12th straight victory with the win and moves to two games ahead of Notre Dame in the ACC standings. The ‘Cuse takes on Boston College (8-5, 5-3 ACC) next, who has won eight straight against SU.