COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Dominic Lamolinara was Syracuse’s backup goaltender at the ides of March. He stood on the sideline and watched while Bobby Wardwell carried the Orange to a 3-1 start.

Two months later, Lamolinara is the center of attention. Lamolinara has been brilliant for Syracuse since he earned the starting nod following a strong second-half performance against Johns Hopkins.

His most recent gem – perhaps the finest of his college career – came Saturday afternoon at the University of Maryland, the school he used to call home. Lamolinara made nine saves, igniting No. 1-seed Syracuse (15-3) to a thrilling 7-6 victory over Yale at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. In the clutch, Lamolinara came through, propelling the Orange to the final four.

“I’m really happy to get the win, I’m really happy to the get to the final four for the first time with my team,” Lamolinara said, “but yeah, it definitely means a lot more coming from (Maryland).”

Lamolinara transferred to Syracuse after his freshman season. He’s from Arnold, Md., and lived in Maryland up until he decided to switch schools. Coming back and playing in front of friends and family made the win that much more special.

“To be honest, yeah, it probably does (mean more),” Lamolinara said. “I had never played out here on the turf, but I had a lot of family here today. I had a lot of people rooting for me, so to have a good showing in front of all of them means a lot.”

Lamolinara was sharp from the get-go. He saved Harry Kucharczyk’s shot late in the first quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Yale attempted 32 shots. Fifteen of them were on goal, but only six found the back of the net.

Conrad Oberbeck scored off a Michael Lipin missed shot midway through the second quarter. There was nothing Lamolinara could do. Oberbeck scooped up the ball in perfect position and the finish was a cinch.

But overall, Lamolinara underlined a dominant defensive effort. Syracuse held Yale scoreless in the game’s first 14-plus minutes and its last 13 minutes to come away with the win.

Nestled between a flawless opening stanza and a scintillating conclusion, SU’s defense did what it had to in the second and third quarters, too, thanks in large part to Lamolinara.

“I thought our defense played great all game long,” said SU head coach John Desko. “While we didn’t have it at one half, we picked it up on the other side of the field. I’m proud of the guys.”

Lamolinara made a few mistakes in the second and third quarter and Yale took a 6-4 lead. But he stepped up when he needed to, carrying the Orange to a win in the final minutes.

His most impressive save essentially kept Syracuse’s season alive. It came with less than two minutes to go and the score deadlocked at 6. Conrad Oberbeck unleashed a shot from just outside the crease. Lamolinara had a split second to react.

Syracuse’s season was in the balance. SU’s furious comeback to tie the score was almost for naught. As he’s done all season, though, Lamolinara made a big-time save. He flung his stick upward and deflected Oberbeck’s shot, eventually securing the ground ball.

“I thought about jumping out to pick it off before it got to the attack, but I just turned and kept my stick high,” Lamolinara said. “I was too close to the shooter for him to put it low so I just kept my stick high.”

One minute after Lamolinara’s doorstep save, Dylan Donahue gave the Orange the win, a shot that was made possible thanks to the netminder’s save and scoop. Lamolinara’s ability to make saves at the doorstep – a skill Desko has praised him for all season – glistened once again.

This time his heroics sent Syracuse to the final four.

With four seconds remaining Lamolinara thwarted Yale’s desperation attempt, sending Syracuse to the stage it’s desired for four years.

Two months removed from standing on the sidelines, Lamolinara was mobbed by his teammates as they celebrated their final four berth.

Said SU defender Brian Megill: “Dom just stood on his head when we needed him with that doorstop save and the last pass with four seconds left.”

Published on May 18, 2013 at 9:39 pm

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass