No. 7 Virginia men’s lacrosse overwhelms Syracuse, clinching a share of the ACC title

Saturday on the Service Dome, Virginia competed towards a reeling Syracuse group who got here into the sport dropping 4 straight video games. The Cavaliers (10-3, 5-1 ACC) defeated the struggling Orange (4-9, 1-4 ACC), profitable 21-15. Virginia received its nineteenth ACC common season championship with its final one coming in 2019, when the group ultimately went on to win the Nationwide Championship. 

The Orange opened scoring simply over a minute into the sport as star junior midfielder Tucker Dordevic discovered the again of the online, the primary of his three targets within the afternoon. Virginia responded shortly, nevertheless, as sophomore attacker Connor Shellenberger scored 9 seconds later after he prompted a turnover off of the faceoff. 

The following two targets had been instigated by senior midfielder Jeff Conner who discovered freshman attacker Griffin Schutz for the primary purpose, after which Conner scored himself after beating his defender from behind the purpose to make the rating 3-1. Conner completed the sport with 4 targets and three assists, his highest level output this yr. 

Later within the first quarter, graduate midfielder Jack Peele cleared the ball from the defensive finish and beat the Syracuse goalie, Virginia switch and sophomore Bobby Gavin to make the rating 5-1. The Orange saved the rating inside hanging distance within the first quarter as they scored two extra targets to chop their deficit to a few because the rating going into the second quarter was 6-3 Cavaliers. 

Syracuse continued its run into the second quarter because it scored two fast targets. Virginia was in a position to get on the board within the second quarter when graduate pupil attacker Matt Moore discovered Conner from behind the purpose as Conner was in a position to step into his shot and beat Gavin, making the rating 7-5. 

Virginia started to open the sport up after this purpose because it was adopted by a slick pick-and-roll play between Moore and junior attacker Xander Dickson, who discovered the top-right nook of the online to make it a three-goal recreation. The Cavaliers went into halftime with a 12-7 lead after a 6-2 run to shut the second quarter.

After a fast Syracuse purpose from freshman midfielder Carter Rice, Virginia continued its run into the second half, scoring six straight targets earlier than the Orange might get again into the scoring column. The primary purpose of this run encapsulated the day for Virginia — after dodging down the fitting facet of the sector, Conner discovered Dickson on a cross-field move, and he ripped an undershot that discovered the again of the online. 

Within the fourth quarter, the sport was out of attain for the Orange, because the Cavaliers held possession whereas many backups obtained taking part in time. Conner capped off his unbelievable afternoon within the fourth quarter as he beat his defender behind the purpose once more, making the rating 19-11. Syracuse scored 5 extra targets within the ultimate quarter, however it might not matter because the Cavaliers got here away victorious, with a 21-15 win. 

Virginia had no points discovering scoring alternatives on Saturday, an excellent signal contemplating its current struggles towards different ACC foes. As match time approaches, they must proceed to play unselfishly to interrupt down opposing defenses. 

The Cavaliers return to Klöckner Stadium Thursday evening as they compete towards Lafayette on senior evening. The sport is scheduled for six p.m. and will probably be broadcast on ACC Community.