No. 5 Syracuse (2-0) took down No. 12 Albany (0-1), 16-7, on Sunday afternoon at the Carrier Dome.

The Orange spread out its offense nearly as much as last week’s 18-5 win against Siena, with nine different players chipping into the scoring effort. Derek DeJoe and Nick Mariano led all scorers with three goals a piece.

Here are three reactions to SU’s second-week win.

Great Lane

In place of injured attack Nick Piroli, Syracuse head coach John Desko moved up starting midfielder Tim Barber to the first-line attack and second-line midfielder Matt Lane to the starting group.

The 6-foot-7 Lane notched four points in his first career start, after primarily being featured as one of SU’s man-up-only flamethrowers.

With Albany’s Stone Sims charging at him in front of the Great Danes net, Lane unfurled a shot over the shoulders of goalkeeper Blaze Riorden and into the net. The goal put the Orange up, 4-1, and Lane converted again on a feed from midfielder Nick Mariano behind the net.

Mariano clenched his fists and looked up at the Carrier Dome ceiling in celebration, embracing Lane and SU’s 7-4 lead.

It’s unclear how long Piroli is out for, but Lane flourished in the role originally set for the transfer attack from Brown.

Friendly confines

After dominating Albany at the X last year, snatching 24-of-27 faceoffs, Ben Williams similarly excelled against the Great Danes on Sunday afternoon. The junior midfielder converted 17-of-24 faceoffs, primarily against Albany freshman Zach Ornstein.

Williams started off the game on a 10-for-10 run, including his fifth faceoff that he pried from Ornstein and took off down the field. The roar of the crowd grew with each of Williams’ steps before he errantly fired high and wide of Riorden’s net.

He never retreated too far from the X after that run, as Syracuse is still toying with how to incorporate its dynamic face-off man into its offense

Offensive transition

For the second week in a row Syracuse was able to showcase its offensive depth. Reserve players Nate Solomon, Gale Thorpe and Devin Shewell each got significant playing time in the second half of the game.

Shewell fired in two goals, playing primarily in place of Barber, who didn’t play in the second half after being knocked down just before the halftime buzzer by Great Danes defender James Burdette.

The senior midfielder walked off the field gingerly as his teammates filed to the locker room, and he watched the second half from the sideline with his helmet off.

Published on February 21, 2016 at 6:27 pm

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman