5 things to know about Syracuse lacrosse vs. North Carolina: ‘It’s definitely going to be a battle’
Updated Apr 16, 2021;
Posted Apr 16, 2021
Syracuse midfielder Jacob Buttermore (31) after a goal in the first quarter. The Syracuse men’s lacrosses team takes on Albany at the Carrier Dome. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
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Syracuse, N.Y. No. 9 Syracuse begins a three-game stretch against top-five competition when it hosts No. 5 North Carolina on Saturday afternoon in the Carrier Dome.
It’s expected to be the largest crowd inside the dome since the building underwent extensive renovation work last year. The allotment of tickets the school made available to the general public have been sold.
3 takeaways from No. 9 Syracuse’s 13-8 win over Albany
Courtesy of Rich Barnes | USA TODAY Sports
The Orange held the Great Danes scoreless in the fourth quarter.
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When Stephen Rehfuss’ shot in traffic deflected off Griffin Cook’s back, the sophomore scooped up the loose ball and unleashed a follow-up effort in one smooth motion.
Cook’s behind-the-back highlight goal his first of the season caused the SU bench to erupt into cheers. On a day where SU’s defense held firm, allowing just eight goals, the offense was less efficient than usual, notching just 13 goals on 50 total shots.
(Photo Courtesy of Syracuse Athletic Communications)
When Stephen Rehfuss started his shooting windup, Griffin Cook pressed his Albany defender away from the middle of the field. He needed to widen the shooting lane Rehfuss wanted to hit, clearing traffic that Rehfuss had initially tried to dodge around but couldn’t.
Rehfuss’ move left him and Cook as the two SU players working to create on their second possession of the third quarter. There was Rehfuss, the leading Tewaaraton Award candidate on Syracuse. There was Cook, the midfielder-turned-starting-attackman last season that settled back on the second midfield line after Owen Hiltz emerged. And together, they took Syracuse’s three-goal halftime lead and extended it further. Albany blocked Rehfuss’ initial shot, but Cook snuck through and scooped up the ball running in alone and flipping a behind-the-back shot that sunk into the left corner.
Opponent preview: What to know about UAlbany
Josh Shub-Seltzer | Staff Photographer
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Then-No. 9 Notre Dame used a 9-2 second-quarter run to flip a deficit into a blowout loss for the then-No. 4 Orange on Saturday. The two since flipped spots in the latest Inside Lacrosse rankings, and now No. 9 Syracuse will take on the unranked UAlbany on Thursday.
Syracuse will look to avoid its first three-game losing streak since 2016. The matchup will mark Syracuse’s last before it plays three consecutive ACC opponents to close out the season against North Carolina, Virginia and Notre Dame. Here’s everything you need to know about the Great Danes before they travel to the Carrier Dome for Thursday evening’s game:
No. 4 Syracuse loses 2nd straight game, 18-11, to No. 9 Notre Dame
Courtesy of Rich Barnes | USA Today Sports
Pat Kavanagh recorded four goals in Notre Dame s blowout win in the Carrier Dome.
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For the better part of the first quarter, Syracuse’s defense locked down the nation’s assist leader, Pat Kavanagh. He scored around Mitch Wykoff with five minutes remaining in the quarter, but Wykoff did well to mirror the Notre Dame sophomore’s movements. The Gettysburg transfer used his stick aggressively, limiting Kavanagh’s space to keep him uncomfortable near SU’s crease.