Minus White, Jamieson, 'Cuse Fares Just Fine
By Matt Gelb | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
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| Kenny Nims showed good rapport with first-time starter Stephen Keogh for Syracuse, with the attack duo spearheading a season-opening, 22-3 win over Providence. |
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Providence understood its only
chance to upset No. 2 Syracuse was to completely control the
possession. In a matter of seconds, that chance was eliminated.
A turnover by the Friars led to a transition score by Syracuse's
Kenny Nims for a two-goal Orange lead with 4:26 left in the first
quarter. Then, Providence defenseman Dean Fraser was assessed a
three-minute, non-releasable penalty for an illegal stick.
Syracuse's man-up unit scored three goals in the next three
minutes to take control for good, beginning its national
championship defense with a 22-3 blowout of Providence Sunday in
front of 5,405 at the Carrier Dome.
It was the 13th straight season-opening victory for Syracuse
(1-0), which rode the tandem of Nims and Stephen Keogh early. The
22 goals were the most SU has scored since a 22-9 victory over
Rutgers on April 15, 2007.
"We got the possessions that we wanted early, and took some good
shots, and then kind of broke things open as we got into the end of
the first and second quarter," Syracuse head coach John Desko said.
"I felt good about what we were doing there."
Providence (0-1) will join Syracuse when the Big East conference
forms next season, but remains far from being a fully funded
program like the Orange. Syracuse outshot Providence, 55-12, and
killed off all seven Providence extra-man opportunities.
Still, the Friars began the game at their pace. Bobby Labadini
tied the game at one with 5:53 left in the first when the
Providence attackman scored over Orange goalie John Galloway's left
shoulder.
But Pat Perritt scored 53 seconds later, the first of four
Syracuse goals in a 1:25 span. Sparked by the man-up opportunity,
Syracuse scored 15 unanswered goals.
"Obviously, it's critical," Providence head coach Chris Burdick
said. "We had a shot to hang in there in the first quarter. It was
a huge momentum swing in more ways than one."
Keogh, making his first career start, accounted for four in a row,
turning what was a three-goal game into an 8-1 blowout. The
sophomore attackman finished the day with five goals, a
career-high.
Nims, who built such a crucial chemistry with Mike Leveille during
Syracuse's national championship run last season, had five assists
-- two coming on Keogh goals.
"Last year, myself and Mike had some great chemistry," said Nims,
who also scored three goals of his own on Sunday. "This year, early
on in the preseason and fall ball, Steve and I, we're starting to
get a little bit of the same thing. We both know each other's
tendencies pretty well, so I think it's something that's going to
get better every week of the season."
Syracuse played the game without sophomore midfielder Joel White,
who suffered an ankle injury earlier in the week at practice, and
transfer Cody Jamieson.
Jamieson, the junior college star at Onondaga Community College, is still awaiting a decision from the NCAA on his eligibility, a Syracuse athletics spokesman said.
White, Desko said, should be ready for Friday's game against
Army.
By the end of the third quarter, Desko was able to substitute his
reserves. He tried seven different players on faceoffs and used a
total of 37 players. Backup Al Cavalieri relieved Galloway in the
fourth. Galloway allowed two goals and made five saves.
Desko was proud of his team's ability to stay focused, even
through a rout such as Sunday, as the quest for back-to-back titles
intensifies.
Said Desko: "We talked about in the timeouts in between the
periods, and said, 'Hey, guys, it's the first game of the year, we
need to work on what we need to work on, let's go out and pretend
it's 0-0. Not look at the scoreboard. We'll just go out and play
our game.'"
