John Desko could feel the difference as time crept off the clock Saturday for his Syracuse men’s lacrosse team against Binghamton.

Instead of frantic play from his front-liners, the Orange head coach had time to rest his starters. Instead of a three- or four-goal deficit against a top 10 opponent, SU had a more-than-10-goal lead and a 16-2 victory.

Instead of tension, Desko had relaxation.

A change of pace. He wasn’t complaining.

‘It definitely had a different feel to it going into the fourth quarter than it has the last few games,’ Desko said afterward.

He let out a small chuckle.

‘It’s been a month, you know.’

After four games filled with anxiety, Syracuse (5-1) got a rest. Life was easier at the Carrier Dome: the win over the Bearcats (2-2) was the team’s best statistical defensive performance since 1989, when it stomped Pennsylvania 22-1.

Syracuse, now tied with Duke for the No. 2 ranking in the nation, faces Hobart (3-3) tonight at 7 p.m. at McCooney Field, the Statesmen’s home in Geneva, N.Y.

Saturday’s victory came in front of 5,011 fans, the largest home crowd this season, in the second-ever meeting between the two programs.

It was a breather Syracuse had earned.

The Orange endured a tense slog of four straight one-goal games – the last three stretching into overtime – during which the team went 3-1, jumped into the top 5 in the polls and reestablished itself as a final four contender.

The Orange held off No. 13 Army, 8-7, on Feb. 24 before embarking on a brutal stretch to begin March, with road games against No. 1 Virginia (an overtime loss) and No. 6 Johns Hopkins (an overtime win) bookending a home clash with No. 5 Georgetown (an overtime win).

Senior midfielder Steven Brooks played the hero for those three games, scoring to send the first two into overtime, then netting the game-winner against Hopkins.

There was no need for more from Brooks Saturday, though, no want for furious rallies in the fourth like against Georgetown and Hopkins and no use for overtime adjustments.

And Desko had no problem with that.

‘It was good to have the lead,’ he said. ‘Though I didn’t think it was enough of a lead at halftime at whatever it was, 7-1. … I thought the team did a better job executing, and it definitely it was more relaxed as the game went on.’

Syracuse chugged to that 7-1 lead, then cruised through most of the second half, subbing in backups liberally. Senior attack Mike Leveille led all scores, racking up four goals and an assist for the senior attack.

He wasn’t alone on the score sheet. Dan Hardy got in on the action (two goals and two assists), while fellow juniors Matt Abbott, Greg Niewieroski and Kenny Nims each had three points.

‘It’s a bit of a relief,’ Leveille said of the easy victory. ‘Those games are stressful.’

The physical advantage for the Orange was clear. Bearcat goalie Larry Kline, who finished with nine saves, stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 160 pounds. Leading scorer Chris Mulheron – held to two shots – is 5-foot-7, 180 pounds.

‘I noticed that,’ Brooks said. ‘We thought we were bigger than these kids. These guys weren’t that tall. I mean, they worked hard, and they came out fighting. But I felt like we had a size advantage for sure.’

Syracuse used that advantage en route to the washout. It had more shots (45 to 20), more groundballs (43 to 25) and fewer turnovers (19 to the Bearcats’ 27).

SU goalie John Galloway gave up one goal in three periods, stopping five shots. Sophomore Al Cavalieri played the fourth period in net, with junior goalie Pete Coluccini in street clothes nursing a hand injury suffered earlier in the week.

With the game in hand, Desko and his staff juggled the line-ups so younger players could get time.

The stat sheet afterward was full of fresh faces: freshman Stephen Keogh scored twice in the fourth quarter, while Josh Amidon and Chris Daniello each scored once and scooped two ground balls.

It might not be a statement win like last week against Hopkins – ‘Beating a big dog is a big win,’ Brooks said – but it will do.

‘5-1 (this year) compared to 5-8 last year?’ Brooks said. ‘We’re on a roll.’

ramccull@syr.edu

Published on March 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm