by A five-goal run spanning the first and second quarters propelled Syracuse to a 13-5 victory over the University at Albany men’s lacrosse team Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
Tehoka Nanticoke (Mohawk) and Noah Taylor scored twice each for the Great Danes, and junior goalkeeper Nate Siekierski made 16 saves in his first collegiate start. Sean Eccles also added a goal for UAlbany.
But the Great Danes couldn’t overcome a six-goal performance from Syracuse’s Bradley Voigt, and the Orange never trailed after taking a 3-2 lead in the first quarter.
“I just thought we struggled offensively,” said Scott Marr, UAlbany’s head coach. “We didn’t take good quality shots and missed on some opportunities we did have. Give credit to Syracuse. I knew they were going to be hungry.”
The Orange, which lost to the Great Danes, 15-3, in the Carrier Dome in last season’s opener, outshot UAlbany, 48-34, including a 29-19 edge in shots in goal.
But Siekierski was solid in the cage, especially in the third quarter, when he turned away three quality chances in the opening minutes.
“I thought he was outstanding in his first career start,” Marr said.
Bouncing back from a season-opening home loss to Colgate, Syracuse led 8-4 at halftime, scoring five straight after UAlbany had tied the game at 3 with a man-up goal from Eccles.
The Great Danes stopped the run with 2:01 left in the half, when Nanticoke went airborne near the crease to narrow the Orange lead to 4.
Both goalies shined in the third quarter. Voigt’s goal, his fifth of the game, was the only score of the period.
Taylor scored UAlbany’s final goal of the game in the fourth quarter on a feed from Teioshontathe McComber, who recorded his first collegiate point on the play.
Jakob Patterson and Kyle Casey also had an assist each for UAlbany.
“We’ll get back and ready to attack Drexel next week,” Marr said. “We’ve been to the (NCAA) Tournament 10 times, and we’ve lost to Syracuse in this position before. It’s not the end of our season. It’s one game.”
