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In three out of No. 6 Syracuse’s four losses this year, the game fell out of its control late. SU gave up a two-goal fourth quarter lead to Maryland on Feb. 17 and a three-goal third quarter advantage to Army 11 days later. But the most egregious example was two weeks ago in Ithaca, when a 7-0 first-quarter lead transformed into a double overtime loss to Cornell.
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Last Saturday’s contest against North Carolina almost ballooned into a disaster too. With the Orange holding a six-goal lead in the second half, the Tar Heels sparked a 5-0 run in just 18 minutes. Luckily, Will Mark and Syracuse’s defense did just enough to hold off UNC 10-9 in the final two minutes, clinching a spot in the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Now, Syracuse has its toughest test since taking on No. 1 Notre Dame. The Cavaliers are the only team the Orange haven’t faced who are currently above them in Inside Lacrosse’s rankings. UVA dropped two spots in the ranking after an 18-12 loss to Duke last weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know before No. 6 Syracuse (10-4, 2-1 ACC) faces No. 4 Virginia (10-2, 1-1 ACC):
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All-time series
Virginia leads 21-20.
Last time they played
By the end of the first quarter of Syracuse’s 19-12 loss to Virginia last April, the game was already lost for the Orange. Xander Dickson notched a hat trick in 11 minutes while the Cavaliers won six-of-seven faceoffs to take a 6-0 lead in the opening period. The Orange turned the ball over six times during that time, struggling against Virginia’s 10-man ride.
“The Cavaliers, I thought, came out ready to play,” SU head coach Gary Gait said after the defeat. “They were fired up, and they had a great first quarter.”
Dickson recorded seven goals and two assists in the contest. It was the second straight game that the Orange had five goals in the first half and Joey Spallina was held scoreless for the first and only time all season. The loss ended any chance of a postseason for SU.
The Cavaliers report
Virginia enters Saturday’s contest after its worst defensive performance since an 18-9 loss to Maryland in the 2022 NCAA Quarterfinals. The Cavaliers were in such desperate shape early that they pulled Matthew Nunes, 2023’s ACC leader in save percentage, after he allowed seven goals and zero saves in the first quarter.
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The loss itself was uncharacteristic for Lars Tiffany’s squad, whose other blemish this season came in a 16-14 loss to Johns Hopkins on March 2. Otherwise, UVA has had a strong 2024 season after losing to Notre Dame in the Final Four last year with the second-best offensive pacing in the country and the 10th-best shooting percentage, according to Lacrosse Reference.
Payton Cormier and Connor Shellenberger are leading their attack with 51 and 53 points, respectively. Cormier leads the ACC with 3.67 goals per game. Freshman McCabe Millon has been another key addition to the attack with 45 points.
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How Syracuse beats Virginia
Syracuse must learn how to finish games. Gait knows this, saying the Orange “still have work to do” in fourth quarters after letting the Tar Heels creep back into last weekend’s matchup. Spallina knows this too, emphasizing that SU can’t repeat the same mistakes it made against UNC.
So how does Syracuse avoid those mistakes? It needs to do the exact opposite of what it did late against North Carolina. The Orange need to complete their clears, take the ball out of the hands of UVA’s best players and keep the ball on the attack for as long as possible.
Completing clears will be the hardest to achieve against Tiffany’s 10-man ride, but the Cavaliers’ overall defense is something SU can take advantage of since its attack is just as potent as Duke’s. Another consistent performance from Mark and the faceoff unit would help solidify the Orange’s chances too.
Stat to know: 9.75
Virginia leads the country with 9.75 assists per game, sitting one spot ahead of Syracuse. At the third spot nationally is Cornell, who embarrassed the Orange with a flurry of assisted goals not too long ago.
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This could be a big factor Saturday, especially if the game is close late. Shellenberger is the designated “quarterback” for the Cavaliers, leading the team with 33 assists. SU has historically done well against Shellenberger, holding him to just two points last year, but he could be the difference this time around.
Player to watch: McCabe Millon, attack, No. 9
Millon was Inside Lacrosse’s No. 1 recruit last year out of the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland. While the Orange will go all out with Billy Dwan and Riley Figueiras on Shellenberger and Cormier, Millon could dominate on a short-stick matchup as the Cavaliers’ tertiary option.
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.
The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).
As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.
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Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?
Click here for more details.
Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot
Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.
The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.
According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.
Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.
A new effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs to help missing persons. (Ron Lach/Pexels.com)
HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.
The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.
Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.
“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”
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Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.
“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”
The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.
“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”
Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.
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“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.
“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”
She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.
“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”
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United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.
“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.
The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.
The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.
Reid said the goal is clear.
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“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”
