Daily Orange Sports Blog

Both Syracuse men’s and women’s lacrosse advanced Sunday to the second round of the NCAA tournament — not a huge surprise.

Now, both stand one win away from the final four. The men have been there 24 times. The women? Never.

The women will take on North Carolina, which upset No. 4 Virginia, on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. These two teams have played before in the NCAA tourney, a 14-9 UNC win in the 2001 first round.

The men will face No. 6-seeded Notre Dame at Cornell’s Schoellkopf Field at 3 p.m. on Sunday. SU has faced the Irish in the final four, back in 2001, a 12-5 Syracuse victory.

For coverage of Sunday’s games, read Andy McCullough’s game story from Canisius and John Sutton’s story from Towson.

This by D.O. staff writer John Sutton, who was at the Carrier Dome for this afternoon’s women’s lacrosse opening round NCAA tournament game against Towson. The Orange won, 21-9, and will have a home game against North Carolina next Saturday in the quarterfinals.

By John Sutton
Staff Writer

May 11, 8 p.m. — All season, Gary Gait has implored his potent Syracuse offense to take high-percentage shots.

On Sunday, the Syracuse head coach watched as his team put together one of its most efficient performances in the biggest game of the season thus far.

The No. 5 Orange defeated Towson, 21-9, Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Syracuse converted 21 goals on only 33 shots, making it impossible for Towson to gain any momentum throughout the game.

Syracuse will face North Carolina next Saturday in the tournament quarterfinals at 1 p.m. in the Dome. The Tar Heels scored an 11-7 upset earlier in the day over No. 4 Virginia, which defeated Syracuse on March 1.

Coming off a two week layoff since winning the Big East tournament in South Bend, Ind., the Orange (17-2) continued to put up big offensive numbers in the program’s first home NCAA tournament game.

“They were quality shots, I thought we matched up pretty well with their goalie and her style of play,” Gait said. “We did a nice job, knowing the way she plays, we played great. We had a good week to work on where to shoot the ball and what we need to do. It’s great when they execute. It’s fun to watch.”

It was business as usual for the Orange, on the same field where earlier in the day, several members of the team had graduated, taking part in Syracuse’s Commencement ceremony.

Once again SU junior attack Katie Rowan set the pace, tallying two Syracuse and NCAA tournament records with 13 points and eight assists on Sunday. Christina Dove also had five goals, and Halley Quillinan tallied four of her own in the win.

Gait has urged Rowan to put up her best performances in the biggest games this season. While the Orange defeated Towson 22-5 earlier in the season, this time around the stakes were higher.

“It was a quiet 13 points,” Gait said. “We stuck to our offense. We talk about it, her stepping up in big games, and it’s the NCAA tournament and she has her biggest game. You’ve got to be happy with that. She does a great job keeping her head up and the other players on the team are cutting hard.”

Early in the game it looked like the Tigers (13-6) would give Syracuse a tougher game than earlier in the season. But with the score tied 2-2 with 22:12 left in the first half, Syracuse went on a seven-goal run to put the game out of reach.

While senior attack Kristin Brady admitted afterwards she expected a tougher game from Towson, Gait felt that there was a difference in the Tigers from the last time the teams met.

“I think the effort level, they were a little better prepared,” Gait said. “I think, the first time, we caught them off guard and we caught them early. We were able to run it up on them, and take them out of their game early. This time, they showed up ready to play.”

The key to victory remained Syracuse’s ability to convert on so many of its scoring chances. The constant barrage denied the Tigers and their substantial cheering contingent from gaining any sort of foothold in the game.

“It definitely wasn’t a shooting day for us. I thought Syracuse shot very well,” Towson head coach Missy Doherty said. “Twenty-one goals on 33 shots, that’s called having a good shot percentage day.”

North Carolina’s upset means the Orange will get to stuck around for another home game - SU would have traveled to Virginia had the Cavaliers won. A win against the Tar Hells would propel Syracuse into the first final four in school history, hosted this year in Towson, Md.

“We’re pretty comfortable playing in the Dome,” Rowan said. “We’re really excited to stick around Syracuse for another week, and get another win here.”

jssutton@syr.edu

End fourth quarter Syracuse 17, Canisius 3 Sorry for the lack of posts - there have been no media timeouts this quarter. Not that you’ve missed much, this one’s been over for a while. But still, an impressive showing by the Orange, the type of win they needed after last week’s loss to Colgate.

Syracuse has just poured it on in the second half, with no answer from a demoralized Griffins outfit. They just scored and scored and scored, even with just subs in.

Well, it’s Notre Dame next week in Ithaca. Danny Brennan v. Taylor Cladgett in the X. Should be fun.

End third quarter Syracuse 16, Canisius 3 The Orange have stopped running - but they haven’t stopped scoring. Mike Leveille netted his fourth, then fed Dan Hardy on basically an alley-oop in front of the net.

Not sure why the regulars are still out there - maybe Leveille convinced Desko to let him pad his stats for the Tewaarton.

Just kidding.

And of course, as I write this, Keogh, Harmatuk and Chris Daniello come in at attack, while Al Cavalieri replaces Galloway in net.

Bloggin’ ain’t easy. But interpid live blogger Kyle Austin taught me everything he knows. So I’ll be OK.

They just announced the attendance: 3,452. Not great. Then again, school is out. For summer. School’s out. For. Ever.

10:31 third quarter Syracuse 12, Canisius 3 Same as it ever was. Niewieroski, Leveille and then Abbott scored to pump the lead back to nine. The first and third goals were both in transition, a hallmark of Syracuse’s success this afternoon. Jovan Miller set to take a faceoff now.

End second quarter Syracuse 9, Canisius 3 Once again, I spoke too soon. Nims was just out there. I guess Desko just wanted Harmatuk to get some time. An interesting decision, as normally Stephen Keogh serves as the fourth attack.

Blocho scored again, a little flick from the doorstep after a Galloway save went behind the net and straight into LoCoco’s stick. The Canisius students are all over SU’s freshman goalie (funny, opposing fans usually single out Hardy), but Galloway’s played well. He saved seven shots in the first half, while his counterpart Chris Courteau stopped four.

A few more stats: The Orange committed five penalties in the half, a bit too aggressive. Turnovers are even at five a piece. Syracuse scooped 17 groundballs, Canisius 11.

The Orange have cooled down a bit on offense, but on that eight goal run to start the game, they scored on 13 shots. Just thirteen, a healthy combination of lay-ups, jump shots and uncontested rips from 10 to 15 yards out.

If the rush continues at the start of the half, expect the sea of substitutes to come in for Syracuse. If no rush comes, maybe we’ll have a decent game. Win, win.

2:14 second quarter Syracuse 9, Canisius 2 The Orange just called timeout after a long possession yielded only a few wayward shots. SU still has the ball, and a big lead to go along with it. Jack Harmatuk has replaced Kenny Nims at attack - Nims has been nursing an injury and the coaching staff has decided to shut the junior down for the day, it seems.

Adam Jones, a freshman midfielder, broke the ice for Canisius. Michael Blocho scored a
few minutes later, as this game creeps toward respectability.

Perritt scored in between the Griffins’ goals.

9:56 second quarter Syracuse 8, Canisius 0 The rout, it would seem, is on. Syracuse looks just dominant - which is understandable considering it’s facing the unofficial 16th seed of the tourney. Brooks scored on a jump shot after a Nims feed.

The transition game is key. The Orange can start the engine whenever it wants. The Griffs are just caught in the wash.

End first quarter Syracuse 6, Canisius 0 A run-and-gun first quarter for Syracuse. The Orange are ripping the Griffins apart in the transition game: Josh Amidon scored when the Orange were a man-down after a Nick LoCoco pass went flying towards midfield.

Hardy also scored, a mirror image of the Nims’ first goal, low and from the left alley. And you guessed it, Nims had the assist.

The defense is in man and the Griffins are struggling to beat it: just three shots on Galloway, two of which he stopped. Brennan won the first five draws and then took a seat, presumably for the day: Abbott, Carrozza and now Jake Moulton have each taken draws.

Meanwhile, Virginia has beaten UMBC 10-9. Doesn’t look like this one will be as close.

10:35 Syracuse 3, Canisius 0 Orange is a storm right now. Danny Brennan has won all three faceoffs and the Orange have scored with each possesion, 3 goals on 3 shots.

Kenny Nims opened the scoring, a low screamer off a Hardy feed (Hardy is on the first line with Brooks and Brendan Loftus, Matt Abbott is with Perritt and Miller on the second).

Mike Leveille scored the second goal, Loftus the third, both unassisted. Lets see if the Griffs can answer.

7:34 - It sounds like an away game for the Orange with all these Canisius fans. The Buffalo natives just exploded as the Griffins made their way onto the field. They’ve got a rambunctious little student section too.

At least Kenny Loggins is playing now. He can be my wingman any time.

7:29 - One lineup question: Who will play on the second midfield line with Dan Hardy and Pat Perritt? Jovan Miller spent most of the year running with the two roommates. But the guy he replaced, sophomore Max Bartig, has spent more and more time with the two in past few weeks. Miller also plays defensive middie, so Bartig fills in for him some.

Wardrobe updates, for the fashionistas checking out the blog: Perritt, ever the iconoclast, has a pair of black cleats on. Maybe it’s a tribute to Johnny Unitas. Or maybe he thought they look cool. They kind of do. So kudos, Pat.

Meanwhile, head coach John Desko is sporting a vest.

7:16 - Start time here should be 7:44, I believe to account for a rain delay that held up the UVa.-UMBC tilt. ESPNU has televised every game so far of this tournament.

A good amount of Canisius fans are here right now. Syracuse fans still filtering in. It’ll be interesting to see the attendance today, considering almost all SU students (besides us troopers in the fourth estate) have gotten out of dodge.

BTW, I called myself a trooper because “Cumbersome,” Seven Mary Three’s smash hit in 1994, is playing over the loud speaker. There is no way the guys on the team like this song. Why is it on? I hope the game starts soon.

7:15 - Meanwhile, Virginia has found itself in a dogfight in the first round. The second-seeded Cavs lead UMBC 8-7, but its been neck and neck. They were down 7-5 just a moment ago. Ah, the topsy turvy world of lacrosse.

7:06 - Spoke too soon, it seems. Brennan just jogged in and took his customary place in between Steven Brooks and Pat Perritt in the back of the stretching lines, . This is the earliest he’s been out with the team in pregame in in weeks. So that seems to bode well for the Orange.

The team looks ready to go. John Carrozza took the time to woof at a few Griffins on his way onto the field. I’m sure their just old high school friends. You know those John Jay boys.

7:02 - Well the team has emerged from the tunnel, minus Brennan. But thats par for the course. Ever since I wrote a story about how Brennan comes out with the team, injuries have made him leave later. So we’ll see.

6:45 - It’s a big day here at the Carrier Dome. Consider . . .

a) The venue has already hosted the seniors graduation convocation this morning at 9:30 - apparently commencement speaker Bob Woodruff was good.
b) It’s already hosted the Syracuse women’s lacrosse first round game, a 21-9 win over Towson - apparently Katie Rowan (5 g, 8 a - a NCAA tourney record) is very good.
c) The third seed men’s lacrosse team’s playoff bid opens against Canisius in just about an hour - apparently the Orange are very good at the playoffs at home (21-1 in the Dome).

The Golden Griffins of Canisius are appearing in their first NCAA tournament. The Orange are looking to prove once and for all its returned from the dregs of last year. A win here won’t be enough - a trip to Boston and the final four would be more like it- but it’s a start.

The winner today will head to Ithaca next week to face Notre Dame. The six-seeded Fighting Irish knocked off a tough Colgate squad in overtime in South Bend earlier today, and the Orange know how tough that is, having lost to the Red Raiders 12-11 last week.

But part of the reason for that was the absence of Danny Brennan in the faceoff circle. Without him, Syracuse lost 17 of 25 draws, and the game.

So it’s now officially Brennan Watch. Will the fifth-year senior faceoff specialist, nursing a pulled muscle (and perhaps a few other dings and bruises), be able to play? As the playoffs get underway, strength is needed in two places especially: in goal and in the faceoff X.

John Galloway seems settled as the goalie. Now we’ll play the waiting game to see if Brennan is ready to go. He’s the best in the country when healthy.

More updates to come.

Former Syracuse assistant coach Troy Weaver is quickly moving up the front office ranks of the NBA. He was head scout for the Utah Jazz until yesterday, when the Sonics named him assistant GM. He joined the Jazz in 2003.

Of course, Weaver, who spend four years as Jim Boeheim’s assistant, was maybe the man most responsible for SU winning the national title in 2003. He recruited Carmelo Anthony.

Weaver is considered one of the league’s top young executives and his hiring is considered a coup for the Sonics.

“He is a tremendous evaluator of talent and an outstanding person,” Boeheim said when Weaver left Syracuse for the Jazz. “He is one of the best assistant coaches I have worked with over the past 20 years and I hate to see him go.”

Now Weaver may be asked to mold another blue-chip prospect. The Sonics have a 39-percent chance of landing either the No. 1 or 2 pick in the NBA Draft.

If Weaver has any say, Michael Beasley could be the pick. The Kansas St. star played on DC Assault, an AAU team in Washington D.C. that Weaver helped found. Current Sonics forward Kevin Durant also played on that team.

Syracuse center Arinze Onuaku played on DC Assault, too, and he was primarily recruited by Weaver.

Marie Fleming, the mother of former Syracuse Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, passed away Tuesday in Elmira.

She died after injuries suffered from a fall, the Elmira Star-Gazette reports.

Fleming has denied many interview requests in the last year as the popularity of her son’s story is at a recent high with the major motion picture, The Express, set to debut in theaters this October. She did speak with The Daily Orange last October for a story on Ernie.

“I often wish that I could have been there with him more,” Fleming told The Daily Orange. “He was more or less putting on a brave front with everybody.”

Eleven days from now, on May 18, will mark the 45th anniversary of Ernie Davis’ death.

Syracuse head coach John Desko definitely isn’t pleased with his team’s first-round NCAA tournament game’s start time. The Orange will take on Canisius Sunday night at 7:30.

Part of the reason is graduation ceremonies will take up the Carrier Dome for much of Saturday and then Sunday morning. And the women’s lacrosse team plays at 3:30 Sunday. Plus, ESPNU has certain slots for games and the only one that fit was 7:30.

“It’s not my preference,” Desko said today. “I’d rather play early on Saturday and have some success and get ready for the next week.”

The last time SU played a night game, it defeated Albany, 10-5, but Desko called it one of the Orange’s sloppiest efforts of the season.

How will he change things this time around?

“We’re going to try and keep the guys busy during the day,” Desko said. “We’ll let them sleep late and get up and have a team meal, go over the scouting again and just talk about Canisius. By then we should know them pretty well.”

Senior midfielder Steven Brooks likes the idea of a Sunday night game.

“We have more time to prepare,” he said. “I like the Sunday night game, though. It’s nice and easy for us. We can relax all week, slow down toward the end of the week.”

And then there were none.

Former Syracuse center Vaida Sipaviciute was waived today by the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. The move ended her 20-day stint with the team, as Sipaviciute became the second member of the 2007-08 Syracuse team to be signed and waived by a WNBA team in the preseason. Fantasia Goodwin was cut by the Detroit Shock on April 26.

Sipaviciute was a three-year starter for the Orange, averaging 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during her senior year.

So yes, Syracuse lacrosse fans might be disheartened to see that there’s a decent chance the Orange will square off with Colgate in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Red Raiders are hot, especially after being SU 12-11 on Saturday. They travel to Notre Dame, while Syracuse hosts Canisius at the Dome. If both win, they’ll meet in Ithaca in the second round. Not the easiest route to travel to Boston.

But, as the title of this intrepid blog post suggests, it could be worse. No. 1 seed Duke has to travel all the way up I-81 (and through the back woods and CNY slog) to Ithaca in the second round. And no only that, there’s a good chance they’ll face Cornell in that game: a home game for the Big Red.

Glass = half full.