Cody Jamieson just wanted to get back to the fun of lacrosse. The fun that usually comes with complete control of a game.

 

The Syracuse men’s lacrosse team started the day with a behind-the-back goal from Chris Daniello. And the senior attack Jamieson ended it with the same technique, putting the exclamation point on the game and giving the Orange a seven-goal lead late in the fourth quarter of a 14-5 win over Providence.

 

‘In practice, that kind of stuff happens all the time,’ Jamieson said. ‘It’s always good just to lighten the mood. After I scored, looking at the sidelines and watching everybody smile, that’s what lacrosse is about.’

 

With that, everything was back to normal for No. 1 Syracuse, which found itself marred in more of a struggle than it anticipated against Big East foe Providence. On the strength of a strong second half, SU was able to close out the 14-5 win over the Friars in front of 4,956 on Senior Day Saturday inside the Carrier Dome.

 

In between the two bookend glittering goals from Daniello and Jamieson, SU (11-1, 4-0 Big East) faced a rocky path to a victory against a Friars squad that had yet to win a game this season. 

 

Slowing the pace of the game down to a grinding halt, Providence (0-12, 0-4 Big East) stalled for minutes at a time in its offensive zone. The Friars were patient, waiting meticulously for any opening that came their way. 

 

‘We haven’t seen anything like this today,’ SU head coach John Desko said. ‘But that has to be their game plan. They don’t have any wins. They’re not a team that’s great in transition, so they’re going to have to hold the ball.’

 

At the same time, Syracuse was almost as sloppy with the ball as Providence was cautious. The Friars were the benefactors of 12 Orange turnovers in the first half, as SU limped to just 58.3 percent (7-of-12) on clearing opportunities. 

 

It was a first half that left Desko rather annoyed at his team’s performance.

 

‘I was a little disappointed with our play in the first half,’ he said. ‘But (Providence) did what they had to do. They had to slow it down, they had to play good team defense and they had to hold onto the ball, which they did.’

 

Behind that game plan from the Friars, the Orange found itself with only a three-goal halftime cushion against a Providence team that had lost by an average of 6.3 goals per game this season.

 

And it reflected in the teams’ attitudes heading into their respective locker rooms. The Friars sprinted into theirs, clapping and high-fiving along the way. Syracuse’s trot was a slight jog, and there was none of the enthusiasm that radiated from Providence.

 

‘We just said we had to settle down and loosen up the grip on the sticks,’ Jamieson said. ‘Start having fun and just putting the ball in the back of the net.’

 

After a quick regroup in the locker room, SU got back to business as usual behind senior midfielder Max Bartig. Two minutes out of the gate, Bartig dodged from up top. Moving right, he darted a shot past Providence goaltender Christian Dzwilewski. 

 

Bartig knew how important it was to set the tone out of the locker room, halting any Providence momentum before it could even start in the second half.

 

‘It was pretty big,’ Bartig said. ‘We didn’t get the kind of start that we wanted in the first half. … We talked in the locker room and decided we needed to have a big third quarter. Coming out and getting that first goal, it was nice.’

 

With that, Bartig sparked a three-goal run and a 5-2 third quarter in favor of the Orange, beginning SU’s second-half dominance.

 

SU outshot the Friars 22-10 in the second half. It went a perfect 13-for-13 in clearing opportunities. And after a sloppy first 30 minutes, it limited its second-half turnovers to only two.

 

Because of that, Jamieson had an opportunity for a little fun. And when his behind-the-back shot found the back of the net, the game came full circle.

 

His team was finally in complete control.

 

Said Jamieson: ‘That’s what lacrosse is about. It’s about having fun, and I like bringing that kind of excitement.’

 

bplogiur@syr.edu