Dordevic dodged and fired home his second goal, followed by an impressive top-shelf shot and another goal from X to cut the Syracuse deficit to 7-6 just seconds before halftime. The Orange won seven of 10 faceoffs in the second quarter.
Maryland controlled momentum throughout the third quarter, but three saves from Bobby Gavin allowed Syracuse to stay within striking distance. With the Terps leading 9-6, the Orange’s quick passing and timely shooting translated into goals from Jackson Birtwistle and Mikey Berkman — the latter coming with two seconds left in the quarter.
The Terps simply had an answer every time the Orange mounted a comeback. Eric Malever scored 14 seconds into the third quarter, and Jonathan Donville made it 12-8 two minutes later. Dordevic continued to command the Syracuse offense, adding two more goals, but the Terps didn’t allow the Orange to get closer.
Owen Murphy added the exclamation point, making it 14-10 with 2:30 remaining.
In a game that looked even on paper, with a 40-39 shot margin and 31-30 margin on ground balls, Maryland’s quality was enough to stay in front.
NAVY IMPROVES TO 3-1
In the only other Division I men’s game on Sunday, Navy got a hat trick from Henry Tolker in a 9-6 win over Manhattan.
The teams went punch for punch through the first 35 minutes, trading goals until Navy (3-1) managed to score two straight — both on Patrick Skalniak shots assisted by Nick Cole. That 6-5 lead was erased when Kyle Gucwa fed Liam Walshe for Manhattan (1-2).
Skalniak assisted Tolker with nine seconds left in the third quarter, giving the Mids a 7-6 lead. The Mids added two more scores in the fourth, one each from Jon Jarosz and Tolker.