Mark, Syracuse Smother Duke's No. 1 Scoring Offense in 10-4 Win

SYRACUSE — In the last 13 seasons, Duke men’s lacrosse has won two national championships, two conference championships and 168 games. Wednesday was the first time since February 18, 2012, that the Blue Devils were held to four goals or fewer.

No. 9 Syracuse locked down the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, led by one of the world’s best scorers, to the tune of 4-for-36 shooting and 19 turnovers. Billy Dwan smothered reigning Tewaaraton Award winner Brennan O’Neill, as he finished with one goal on 11 shots, and the Orange defense rallied around him. Slides were sharp, execution was pristine and the turnovers flowed because of it.

Syracuse defensive coordinator John Odierna put on a clinic, and the Orange’s 10-4 win over No. 3 Duke showcased a completely rejuvenated defensive unit behind an otherworldly performance from Will Mark, who saved 14 shots. Dwan, Riley Figueiras and Nathan LeVine also turned in stellar performances, contributing to shutdown of the Blue Devils.

“The real key was just to stick to the game plan and play team defense,” Syracuse head coach Gary Gait said. “Nobody is going to go out there and shut down a single player. It’s about support, it’s about help. Every shot was challenged; there were very few where there wasn’t a stick on the gloves or stick in the gut, so that’s great team defense, not giving up anything easy.”

Mark was the lynchpin Wednesday at the JMA Wireless Dome, earning one highlight-reel save after another. Whether it was Josh Zawada trying to force in a low shot at the crease or O’Neill firing from range, Mark was unbothered. There was no secret scouting report or magic confluence of circumstances. Mark was simply locked in, and the teammates he trusted showed up throughout the game.

“We have a quote going, ‘Play at the speed of trust,’” Mark said. “To be able to play so freely and so fast and aggressive because you know there’s five, six guys behind you ready to get your back, I think that’s been a big part of our defense being successful recently. It’s just playing with trust in each other.”

The Orange defense, which hadn’t allowed less than 12 points to any of its three previous top-five opponents, looked like a completely different group. None of the issues it faced this season, notably slides and communication, persisted in the ACC opener. As it often does, great defense led (eventually) to good offense, and that started in the third quarter after a sluggish first half ended 4-2.

From X, Dwan pushed O’Neill out to avoid him getting topside. That’s when the slide from LeVine forced a pass back behind the cage, and Mark jumped in front of it to cause the turnover. It was a massive play that paid dividends for Syracuse on the other end, as Owen Hiltz went low-to-high, stinging the close corner to begin a 3-0 Syracuse run, and they never looked back.

Figueiras secured three ground balls while holding an elite goal-scorer in Dyson Williams to zero points. He had 31 goals coming in, but missed on all four of his attempts Wednesday. LeVine was all over the field, causing two turnovers and unofficially contributing to more with his well-timed slides.

“I guess a perfect 60 minutes would be 0 goals,” Mark said with a laugh. “But in terms of ACC lacrosse, you couldn’t ask for a better game defensively.”

Offensively, Syracuse continued to spread the love, as Joey Spallina was held scoreless for the second time this season, adding two assists in the second half. Jake Stevens (three assists), Hiltz (three goals) and a host of other playmakers supplemented Spallina’s usual production. The offense was “opportunistic,” Gait said, using quick ball movement to capitalize on shooting and passing lanes.

Ironically, 10 points may not have won Syracuse many other games this season, but it was more than enough against the top scoring offense. All of Syracuse’s other high-caliber matchups have been one-score games, but Odierna hit his stride at the right time. This was a clear turning point for the Orange.

“It's the ownership of the defense [that’s different],” Gait said of Odierna. “His philosophy is a team defense. You’re going to make mistakes. Six guys can make a mistake, but if they all make the same mistake, they can get a stop, if they all support it no matter what when one person makes a mistake. So, it’s really communication, taking ownership and having a real understanding of a simpler defense and how to play it.”

Despite this breakout performance, Gait isn’t satisfied. This game doesn’t secure Syracuse a tournament spot. It doesn’t open a path to the final four, and that’s what Gait said he promised athletic director John Wildhack when he took over. Syracuse will keep working to improve until Gait is confident that his “high standard” is being met.

“We have a pretty high standard here at Syracuse, and we’re not where we want to be yet,” Gait said. “So, we still have work to do. I think we’re progressing in the right direction.”