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After a slow start Syracuse rolled Holy Cross 15-6 with the help of seven goals from Chase Scanlan (Seneca Nation) and a career-high six points (1-5) from Owen Hiltz.
The Syracuse defense came to play, holding the Crusaders scoreless in the first half and allowing the Orange to out-shoot Holy Cross 65-20. Drake Porter made five saves and allowed just three goals before being relieved of his duties in the fourth quarter.
Brett Kennedy was also a menace in the middle of the field, causing four turnovers and picking up five ground balls, while Jakob Phaup won 80-percent of his restarts, leading Syracuse to a 15-of-24 day at the X.
“All in all a good day for us today,” said head coach John Desko. “I thought our defense was good most of the game, faceoffs were strong and most important of all we came out healthy. I think with a short week coming up with Duke on Thursday, to come out healthy, rest some guys and get some other guys playing time – all is good.”
In addition to Hiltz and Scanlan. Rehfuss (2-2), Jamie Trimboli (2-0), Owen Seebold (1-1), Kennedy (0-1), Liam Ferris (1-0) and Lucas Quinn (1-0) did the damage for the offense.
Neither team scored for nearly 14 minutes, until Scanlan broke through with 1:02 left in the first quarter on a man-up goal.
The Orange broke things open, scoring three times in under three minutes in the second after Rehfuss, Scanlan and Quinn scored in succession to give Syracuse a 4-0 lead midway through the second. Scanlan notched one more with one second left in the half to send the Orange to the locker room with a 6-0 lead.
Trimboli scored twice in the third, with a Hiltz goal in between to make it 9-0 before Holy Cross finally scored with 10:27 left in the third. Another 4-0 ‘Cuse run gave them their largest lead at 12 before the teams traded goals in the fourth.
