Syracuse Men's Lacrosse Opens ACC Play with Narrow Victory Over Duke

On March 28, 2026, No. 7 Syracuse men's lacrosse achieved a thrilling 16-15 victory against No. 4 Duke at the JMA Wireless Dome, marking the opening of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. The match drew a crowd of 9,304, as Syracuse improved its season record to 9-2, while Duke fell to 8-1.

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Joey Spallina led the Orange with a standout performance, contributing two goals and four assists, which brought his career total to over 300 points, making him only the second player in program history to reach this milestone. Luke Rhoa, Finn Thomson, and Payton Anderson each scored three goals, with Rhoa netting the decisive man-up goal with 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Goalie Jimmy McCool played a crucial role, making 11 saves throughout the game.

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The match was characterized by its back-and-forth nature, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties. Syracuse initially took a 3-1 lead, but Duke responded to take a 5-4 advantage. The teams entered the second quarter tied at five. In the second period, Syracuse regained control, with Spallina scoring twice to push the lead to 8-6. However, Duke rallied to take a 10-9 lead at halftime.

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The third quarter saw Drew Angelo equalize for Syracuse, followed by Rhoa's two man-up goals that helped the Orange establish a 13-11 lead. Despite Duke's efforts to close the gap, including goals from Michael Ortlieb and Benn Johnston, Syracuse maintained a narrow lead heading into the final quarter.

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In the fourth quarter, Syracuse's defense, which had struggled earlier in the game, tightened up significantly. McCool made critical saves, and the defense held firm against Duke's attempts to equalize. An illegal screen by Duke in the final seconds allowed Syracuse to regain possession and secure the win.

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Syracuse head coach Gary Gait praised his team's resilience, particularly highlighting McCool's performance in goal. "Our defense stuck with [McCool], and he made some great saves in the fourth quarter," Gait stated. Duke head coach John Danowski acknowledged the challenges posed by Syracuse's man-up opportunities, noting, "We knew coming into the game that certainly they were really, really dangerous [on] their men up unit."

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Despite the victory, some analysts pointed out that Syracuse's defense allowed Duke to score 13 goals in the first three quarters, which was the most the Orange had conceded in a single game this season. This raised concerns about the team's defensive consistency moving forward.

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Syracuse will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face North Carolina on April 4, 2026, at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The win against Duke not only serves as a strong start to ACC play but also reinforces Syracuse's status among the nation's elite lacrosse programs.

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• "Our defense stuck with [McCool], and he made some great saves in the fourth quarter." — Gary Gait, Head Coach, Syracuse

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• "We knew coming into the game that certainly they were really, really dangerous [on] their men up unit." — John Danowski, Head Coach, Duke

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