A week ago, the Syracuse defense was embarrassed. The unit was dismantled by Albany’s three-headed offensive monster of Thompsons – Lyle, Miles and Ty – allowing 16 goals in the Orange’s double-overtime loss.

Not on Sunday. The SU defense redeemed itself by shutting down Army and its goal-scoring machine, Garrett Thul.

“Army playing three or four games before this one, we had tons of film on them, and I think the coaches did a great job getting us in before practices, after practices, putting in that extra time and it really paid off,” Syracuse defender Brian Megill said. “Getting the defenses together and really start jelling.”

The Orange (1-1) defense that was shamed on its home turf just a week before rebounded in front of 3,614 against the Black Knights (2-2) on Saturday in the Carrier Dome. No. 18 SU held Army to just a pair of goals in its 6-2 victory — tied for the fewest in Dome history. In the process, SU brought an end to Thul’s 42-game goal-scoring streak that dates back to April 2010.

Army never recorded more than seven shots in a quarter. A week ago, Albany shot 45 times against Syracuse. The Thompson clan alone shot 25 times – as many as the Black Knights had as a team.

“I was surprised as anybody to see last week’s score scouting the game,” Army head coach Joe Alberici said. “I think that, that was going to be the strength of their unit – of their team — is their defense. I think even walking out of the Carrier Dome last week, I felt like that was a strength.”

The early going was a stark contrast from the frantic tempo that persisted throughout the Orange’s season-opener. The first goal didn’t come for more than 10 minutes. Syracuse didn’t allow a goal until the 8:15 mark of the second quarter, leading 3-0.

“After last week, we were very disappointed,” Syracuse head coach John Desko said. “The guys wanted to come out and play today. I thought we prepped well, and they were excited to play.”

In a defensive struggle, the Orange exploded for four goals in the second quarter to enter the break in control 5-2. A third-quarter goal gave Syracuse a 6-2 lead heading into the final frame. If the defense could finish the game as strongly as it had played for 45 minutes, the four-goal cushion would be more than enough.

Two minutes into the final quarter came the defense’s toughest test. A push by defender David Hamlin gave the Black Knights a 30-second extra-man opportunity and their best chance of the game.

But SU held firm. Defender Brandon Mullins nearly forced a turnover at the top of the offensive zone. Black Knights midfielder Alex Newsome scooped up the ground ball, but his off-balance shot sailed wide after the penalty released. Syracuse survived.

“It boosts confidence a little bit,” SU goaltender Bobby Wardwell said. “I think the defense did a really good job keeping them on the outside.”

After the Thompsons repeatedly gashed the Orange defense en route to the 16-goal explosion, it became the task of the SU defense to slow the Black Knights’ dynamic attacks, namely Thul and John Glesener.

Stopping Glesener meant a start for Mullins. He could play down low or up top to keep up with the converted midfielder.

There was nothing in particular to do against Thul. It would simply take a stalwart effort from the Syracuse defense and its star Megill to stop the previously unstoppable.

Megill kept him off balance and away from the net. Thul committed four turnovers, all caused by Megill. He got off five shots, but quality opportunities were rare.

When Army needed quick goals, Thul tried to create. The clock ticked below two minutes, and Thul tried to work his way to the net. The Orange kept him at bay, forcing the attack to shoot from 10 yards out – another easy save for Wardwell on a day when that was all he saw.

“I think the Syracuse Orange defense as a whole shut down Thul,” Megill said. “We had a game plan coming in, we watched last week, we knew who they were.

“We knew that they were gunslingers and we had to pressure out, kind of deny the ball a little bit. I think the defense as a whole did a great job this week, coming together.”

Published on February 24, 2013 at 11:16 pm

Contact David: dbwilson@syr.edu | @DBWilson2