After trailing by two goals early in the game, No. 3 Syracuse (3-0) rallied to beat Army (2-2), 9-8 on Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. Despite getting off to a slow start, the Orange turned things around in the second quarter and finished with a strong second half. Derek DeJoe and Sergio Salcido each scored twice to help carry SU to victory.

Here are three quick takeaways from the game.

Sloppy play

A Nick Mariano penalty early in the third quarter allowed Army to pull within three goals. At the 30-yard line, Mariano pushed an Army midfielder and was called for interference. Moments later, Jimbo Moore caught a pass from the outside and fired it in. It was the start of a four-goal run for the Black Knights and just one example of Syracuse’s sloppy play.

The Orange committed 12 turnovers and allowed three man-up goals. Cutting down on the sloppy play has been an emphasis among coaches during the first couple games of the year, but Syracuse faced its first close call of the season against Army and its self-inflicted mistakes didn’t do anything to help.

Dylan Dona-who?

For most of the game, Army contained Syracuse’s most dangerous offensive threat. Dylan Donahue finished with a season-low two points, tallying just one goal and one assist. His only goal cut the Black Knights’ lead to 3-2 early in the game. After that, he was largely invisible.

Late in the third quarter, Donahue drove around the left side of the crease from behind the goal and dipped lower than Army’s Austin Schultz. Donahue beat Schultz inside but Donahue’s shot was stopped by goalie AJ Barretto. Donahue lay on the ground for a moment after the wasted scoring opportunity.

With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, Donahue wasn’t the one shooting for Syracuse. He didn’t take a shot in the final 20:53 of the game.

On the radar

DeJoe showed he’s a more versatile player than just one with a blistering shot. He was the only player to score twice in the first half and finished with that total. On both goals, he dodged to get closer to the goal and finished from inside. With Matt Lane remaining on the first-line midfield, DeJoe has shined with more opportunities on the second line.

The senior only scored four goals in 2015 serving mainly as a man-up specialist. He already has six through three games this season and his breakout continued against Army.

Check out Derek DeJoe’s early goal ?? pic.twitter.com/KV4DSSzCq2

— Syracuse Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) February 28, 2016

Published on February 28, 2016 at 6:10 pm

Contact Paul: pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds