Notre Dame lacrosse dominates Syracuse, advances to NCAA title game Notre Dame’s lacrosse team secured a decisive 15-7 victory over sixth-seeded Syracuse in the NCAA national semifinals on Saturday, May 23, propelling them to the title game on Memorial Day. The second-seeded Irish overwhelmed the Orange with five extra-man goals, leveraging their special teams to overcome a resilient Syracuse squad. The win sets up a showdown against top-seeded Princeton on Monday, May 25, in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Notre Dame will aim to claim its third national title in four seasons. The game’s defining moments unfolded in the final quarter, when Notre Dame’s relentless man-up strategy turned the tide. After Syracuse closed the gap to 9-7, the Irish unleashed a two-minute offensive surge, scoring three critical goals. Sophomore midfielder Matt Jeffery’s penalty, drawn with two seconds remaining on the shot clock, set the stage for Notre Dame’s dominance. Brady Pokorny, whose father, Jason, played for Syracuse alongside current coach Gary Gait, capitalized on the opportunity with a no-look, over-the-shoulder shot that shifted momentum decisively toward the Irish. Notre Dame’s special teams, led by senior goalie Thomas Ricciardelli, stifled Syracuse’s final 16:39 of play. Ricciardelli made 14 saves, including a crucial stop after a Syracuse goal, to preserve the Irish lead. His performance was complemented by senior attackman Josh Yago, who notched a hat trick and four assists, marking his second consecutive seven-point game. Yago’s ability to distribute the ball under pressure highlighted Notre Dame’s unselfish style, a trait emphasized by Yago himself: “When we get deeper into possessions and share the ball the way we do … it’s going to be hard to stop just because of how well we move the ball.#notre_dame #syracuse #princeton #charlottesville_virginia #shawn_lyght
Irish Dominate Syracuse To Advance To National Championship Notre Dame’s men’s lacrosse team secured a commanding 15-7 victory over No. 6-seeded Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament semifinals at Scott Stadium on Saturday, propelling the Fighting Irish to their third national championship game in four years. The win, which marked a dominant performance in both offensive and defensive metrics, sets up a showdown against top-seeded Princeton in the title match on Monday, May 25, at the same venue. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, continuing Notre Dame’s streak of appearing in the NCAA Championship final for the fifth time in program history. The Irish’s offensive onslaught began immediately, with Notre Dame scoring twice within the first five minutes to take an early 2-0 lead. Goals from Brock Behrman and Will Angrick ignited the attack, followed by additional scores from Max Busenkell and Matt Jeffery to extend the lead to 4-0. Syracuse, however, responded with a late surge in the first quarter, netting three goals in the final two minutes to narrow the gap to 4-3. The Orange’s resilience was short-lived, as Notre Dame capitalized on a two-minute penalty in the second quarter to regain control. Teddy Lally scored off a feed from Will Maheras, restoring the Irish lead to two. Busenkell continued his stellar performance with a second goal just three minutes later, pushing the score to 6-3. Syracuse managed to cut the deficit to 6-4 with under six minutes remaining in the half, but Notre Dame seized the opportunity to dominate extra-man possessions. The Irish converted two of their three extra-man chances in the first half, extending their lead to 7-4 at halftime. The second half saw Notre Dame further solidify their dominance, scoring twice in the first nine minutes of the third quarter to take a 9-4 lead.#notre_dame #syracuse #princeton #teddy_lally #will_maheras
Syracuse Faces No. 2 North Carolina in High-Stakes ACC Clash Syracuse entered Atlantic Coast Conference play with a strong showing, securing a thrilling 16-15 victory over No. 8 Duke in its opening matchup. The win extended the Orange’s winning streak to six games, setting the stage for a pivotal test against No. 2 North Carolina. The Tar Heels, coming off a dominant 17-7 win over No. 7 Harvard, will host Syracuse in a matchup that promises to be a defining moment in both teams’ seasons. The game will mark the second meeting between the two programs this year, with Syracuse holding a slight edge in the series. In their previous encounter on February 21, the Orange fell to North Carolina 13-12 in Cambridge. That loss highlighted Syracuse’s struggles against the Tar Heels’ formidable defense and faceoff dominance. North Carolina’s victory in that game was fueled by its ability to control possession, limiting Syracuse’s opportunities to score. North Carolina enters the matchup with a 9-1 record and a 1-0 mark in ACC play, showcasing its dominance in the conference. The Tar Heels’ success is anchored by their offensive firepower, led by junior attackmen Owen Duffy and Dominic Pietramala. Together, the duo has accounted for 49 goals this season, contributing to North Carolina’s third-best scoring offense in Division I. Duffy, a top-ranked recruit from the 2023 class, has already surpassed 34 goals and 27 assists, earning him a spot among the nation’s elite players. Pietramala, meanwhile, has added 28 goals to his tally, solidifying the Tar Heels’ offensive threat. A key factor in North Carolina’s success is its faceoff unit, spearheaded by Brady Wambach. The Tar Heels’ faceoff specialist leads the nation with a 71.8% winning percentage, a stat that underscores his ability to control possession.#north_carolina #syracuse #brady_wambach #owen_duffy #dominic_pietramala
No. 2 Men's Lacrosse Opens ACC Play Saturday Versus No. 3 Syracuse The University of North Carolina men’s lacrosse team will begin its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule on Saturday, April 4, as it hosts No. 3 Syracuse in a highly anticipated top-three matchup. The game, set for 2 p.m. at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, will be broadcast live on ESPNU. This matchup marks a significant opportunity for the Tar Heels to establish dominance in ACC play and continue their strong season. The game will also feature the annual “Dogs at Dorrance” event, which allows fans to bring their dogs to the game. Attendees with dogs must obtain tickets for each pet, with UNC students, faculty, and staff able to pick up complimentary dog-section tickets at the Dorrance Field ticket booth one hour before the game. Dogs will be seated in sections 19, 20, or 21, with strict rules requiring all pets to be on a 6-foot leash, fully vaccinated, and under the owner’s control. The event organizers emphasized that the game may be crowded and weather conditions could be warm, urging pet owners to ensure their animals are comfortable. The Tar Heels’ performance in recent weeks has positioned them as a formidable contender in the ACC. Following a 17-7 victory over third-ranked Harvard on Sunday, the team has demonstrated its ability to defeat top-tier opponents. In that game, Owen Duffy, a key player for UNC, recorded a career-high seven goals, while faceoff specialist Brady Wambach set a personal best with 22 faceoffs won, adding an assist and 12 ground balls. Freshman goalkeeper Josh Marcus made 11 saves, contributing to the team’s fifth ranked win of the season and its first victory over a top-three opponent. A win over Syracuse would have significant implications for UNC’s season.#university_of_north_carolina #syracuse #dorrance_field #brady_wambach #owen_duffy
UConn Women's Basketball Set for NCAA Tournament Clash Against Syracuse No. 1 seed UConn will face No. 9 seed Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, continuing its pursuit of a deep run in the 2026 women’s basketball championship. The Huskies, who advanced past No. 16 seed UTSA in their opening game, will look to build on their strong performance led by Sarah Strong, who recorded 18 points, five rebounds, five steals, four assists, and one block. A victory over Syracuse would mark UConn’s 33rd appearance in the Sweet 16, solidifying its status as one of the most dominant programs in college basketball history. The matchup will take place on Monday, March 23, at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut, with the game scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET. The broadcast will be carried nationally on ESPN, with play-by-play commentary from Ryan Ruocco and sideline reporting from Holly Rowe. Fans can also stream the game live via the ESPN app or Fubo, which will provide coverage of all NCAA women’s basketball tournament games in 2026. Syracuse, which defeated No. 8 seed Iowa State in the first round, will rely on the scoring prowess of Uche Izoje, who contributed 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting against the Cyclones. The Orange’s ability to overcome early deficits, such as a 37-point outburst from Audi Crooks, highlights their resilience as they aim to advance further in the tournament. The NCAA Tournament schedule for March 23 features multiple high-profile matchups, including No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 6 Alabama at noon, No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 10 Virginia at 2 p.m., and No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 5 Kentucky at 5 p.m. All games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2, or streamed via the ESPN app and Fubo. Additional games on the same day include No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Illinois at 7 p.m. and No.#uconn #sarah_strong #syracuse #harry_a_gampel_pavilion #uche_izojee
Audi Crooks and the eighth-seeded Iowa State women’s basketball team kick off their March Madness campaign with a first-round matchup against ninth-seeded Syracuse on March 21. The Cyclones, who finished seventh in the Big 12 conference, enter the tournament with a 22-9 record. Crooks, a standout scorer for Iowa State, has been a dominant force throughout her career, setting multiple school records and leading the team in scoring. Crooks has averaged 22.6 points per game while shooting 60.1% from the field over her three seasons with the Cyclones. Her performance has been instrumental in shaping Iowa State’s program, as she holds the school’s records for single-game points, single-season points, and field goals. In November 2025, she shattered her own single-game scoring record with 47 points against Indiana, including 19 field goals—both marks set a new standard for the program. Her 329 made field goals in the 2024-25 season remain the best single-season total in school history. Crooks’ achievements extend beyond her collegiate career. She broke her mother’s high school field goal percentage record while playing at Bishop Garrigan in Algona, Iowa. Her mother, a former player at the same school, had previously held the record, making Crooks the first to surpass it. Crooks was named first-team All-State as a freshman, joining her high school teammate Molly Joyce, who also earned the honor. The duo is believed to be the first freshman pair in Iowa history to achieve first-team All-State recognition in the same season. Crooks continued her dominance through high school, earning All-State honors every year and being named Iowa Miss Basketball her senior year. Her success at the collegiate level has also earned her national recognition.#iowa_state #march_madness #audi_crooks #syracuse #mortgage_matchup_center
Syracuse Should Consider Three Head Coaching Candidates Before Finalizing Gerry McNamara Hire Bryan Hodgson of South Florida and Josh Schertz of Saint Louis have been removed from Syracuse's list of potential head coaching candidates, with Siena's Gerry McNamara emerging as the leading contender for the Orange's vacant position, at least for now. McNamara has transformed Siena's program in his two seasons at the helm, guiding the Saints to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The team, which won just four games in the 2024-25 season before his arrival, now faces No. 1 seed Duke in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 16 seed. His success has generated buzz for the Syracuse job, though officials may still explore other options. McNamara's rapid turnaround at Siena has been remarkable. After leading the Saints to a 21-13 record in his first season, the program secured an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. His ability to elevate a struggling program to national relevance has positioned him as a top candidate for Syracuse, which has struggled to find stability in its coaching ranks. However, the Orange's leadership may weigh other prospects before making a final decision. While hiring McNamara would be a positive move, I personally hope Syracuse's leadership explores other options, though I would fully support him regardless. The decision should prioritize long-term success over short-term hype. Before settling on McNamara, here are three additional candidates who could be viable choices for the Orange. John Groce, the head coach of Akron, has led the Zips to a 29-5 record and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament.#john_groce #gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #shaheen_holloway
Siena coach Gerry McNamara: Focus on tournament, not Syracuse Siena head coach Gerry McNamara addressed rumors linking him to the vacant Syracuse coaching position, calling the speculation "inevitable," but emphasized his commitment to preparing his team for the NCAA tournament. Speaking ahead of the Saints’ opening-round matchup against No. 1 seed Duke, McNamara stated his priority was the game and his players. "These kids have given me everything they’ve got every day this season, and they deserve my full attention," he said. "That’s where my focus is." McNamara, a former Syracuse player and member of the 2003 national championship team, spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the Orange before joining Siena in 2023. Under his leadership, the Saints compiled a 23-11 record this season, including a MAAC tournament championship. His success, combined with his deep ties to Syracuse’s program, has placed him in the conversation for the vacant head coaching job at the Orange, which was vacated after Adrian Autry was fired following two consecutive NCAA tournament misses. McNamara acknowledged the speculation but framed it as a natural outcome of his achievements. "Because of what we’ve done here, my name is coming up," he said. "You get good players, you coach them right, you win, and everybody gets recognition." He noted that the timing of the Syracuse vacancy and Siena’s recent success made the situation "obviously going to be some speculation." Syracuse’s struggles in the NCAA tournament have been stark. The program has not advanced past the first round since 2021, a far cry from its dominant era in the 2000s when McNamara was a key player. He was a four-year starter for the Orange, leading them to four straight tournament appearances.#gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #adrian_autry #jim_boeheim
