Cardiac ’Cuse has done it again, pulling off another improbable comeback.

This time, No. 13 Syracuse rallied from four goals down in the fourth quarter against the nation’s top-ranked defense to beat No. 4 Duke 9-8 in overtime on Sunday. Stephen Rehfuss knotted things at eight late in the fourth, with Brendan Curry playing hero on the team’s second overtime possession to win. The Orange completed the comeback at Bragman Stadium at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, marking the first outdoor home game in 30 years.

It’s nothing new for the Orange, as 20 of the team’s last-36 games have been decided by a single goal. The Orange have won 14 of those 20 contests.

This time, things looked bleak. Trailing by four with under seven minutes to play, Syracuse used goals from Nate Solomon, David Lipka, Bradley Voigt and Rehfuss to double their total from the prior 54 minutes in the final six.

“I’m proud of the team for fighting back,” said head coach John Dekso. “I saw people leaving the stands thinking the game was over. Fortunately, our bench didn’t think that way. Obviously we played well down the stretch. I wish we played like that earlier in the game, but it was a big win.”
 

“I saw people leaving the stands thinking the game was over. Fortunately, our bench didn’t think that way.” — @CuseMLAX John Desko after Brendan Curry (0-for-11 in regulation) scored in OT to complete another improbable comeback.
https://t.co/h5Zj3OB4Rw

( @Firstteamphoto) pic.twitter.com/o67gvK8LIO

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 24, 2019

The Orange man-up unit was on fire all day, accounting for four goals and scoring on every man-up chance. Drake Porter was also phenomenal in cage, making 12 saves, including two in overtime. Jakob Phaup went 8-of-12 at the X, while Solomon (2-2) led the team with four points.

It was another slow start for Syracuse, which fell behind 3-0 in the first-five minutes with Joe Robertson and Garrett Leadmon (twice) providing early offense for the Blue Devils.

The Orange got going thanks to two goals in less than a minute off the sticks of Solomon and Jamie Trimboli. It was silence after that from SU.

Duke scored three more times before Trimboli ended a nearly 30-minute scoring drought and pulled the Orange back within three.

Joey Manown and Rehfuss traded goals to start the fourth, before Brad Smith opened another four-goal lead for the Blue Devils with 6:28 to play.

But the Orange scored the game’s final-five, with Solomon catching a feed from Trimboli and finishing on the doorstep. Voigt then scored his man-up goal with exactly four minutes to go. Forty-five seconds later, Lipka pulled the Orange within one and Rehfuss knotted things with 1:24 to play.

The Orange almost won in regulation as Curry hit the crossbar with seven seconds remaining.

He’d get his chance at redemption with 41 ticks remaining in OT, scoring off a feed from Solomon for the winner.

GAME NOTES

Twenty of Syracuse’s last 36 games have now been decided by one goal, including its last four against ACC opponents ... Nate Solomon extended his point streak to 24 straight games ...  Brendan Curry was 0-for-11 prior to his game-winning goal ... Syracuse has now won 13-straight outdoor home games, dating back to 1979 ... Syracuse has now won 55-straight games when holding its opponent to less than 10 goals.

Drexel Surges Past Providence

Drexel scored eight straight goals to break a 4-4 tie and went on to defeat Providence 15-9 at Chapey Field. The Dragons held the Friars scoreless for more than 21 minutes on the way to improving their record to 4-4. Marshal King set career-highs with five goals and seven points to lead the Dragons. Nick Fox and Reid Bowering each scored three times as the Dragons wrapped up their non-conference schedule. 

Nike/US Lacrosse
Division I Men’s
Top 20 Scoreboard

No. 13 Syracuse 9, No. 4 Duke 4 (OT)

Other Scores

Drexel 15, Providence 9