DURHAM, N.C. — Syracuse (5-2, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) and Duke (7-4, 1-0) jockeyed back and forth for the lead in a wild fourth quarter after SU held onto the lead for much of the first three quarters before falling 16-15 in overtime. It took Syracuse nearly 12 minutes to score in the final stanza, allowing Duke to score five unanswered goals and jet out to a 15-14 lead.

A Derek DeJoe goal with 3:29 left knotted the score at 15, and Syracuse outlasted a 30-second man down penalty in the final two minutes to secure an overtime period. It took less than a minute into overtime for Chad Cohan to sneak through SU’s defense and score the game-winning goal, the Orange’s second straight overtime loss.

Getting Classed at the X

Syracuse has predicated much of its success over the last two seasons on the success of Ben Williams at the faceoff X. More possession time has allowed a potent SU offense to blossom. Saturday offered a rare exception in Williams’ SU career, and he was outworked at the X by Duke, who won 19-of-34 chances.

Possession problems came to a head for the Orange at the start of the fourth quarter, as the Blue Devils streaked to score four goals in about a four-minute stretch to cut its deficit to 14-13, and Deemer Class’ seventh goal of the game gave Duke a 15-14 lead with about six and a half minutes remaining.

Kyle Rowe beat out Williams on a faceoff at the start of the four-minute overtime period, which led to the ultimate game-ending possession.

In the zone

Sergio Salcido has been one of the best two-way players Syracuse has at its disposal. Coming onto the first-line midfield this season after manning the second-line last year, his one- or two-goal games all season have complemented his electric speed. On Saturday his speed led him through the Blue Devils’ defense, and he finished the contest with a career-high six points and four goals.

After nearly five scoreless minutes to start the game Salcido fired a laser from 15 yards out to score his first goal, and less than a minute later he split through five Duke defenders around the crease to slot his shot past goalkeeper Danny Fowler. That goal stretched out a quick 3-0 lead for the Orange.

By the conclusion of the first half, Salcido’s three goals set a career-high and he anchored an offense that didn’t receive as many possessions as usual.

On the doorstep

Transitioning into Syracuse’s offensive conductor this year hasn’t meant as many goal-scoring opportunities for Dylan Donahue. But he’s set the stage all season for the nation’s fourth-highest scoring offense, and notched five points today, getting him ever closer to 200 points in his decorated career.

He entered the seventh game of the season Saturday 17 assists already, and tallied three more in the game’s opening 30 minutes. From the X position Donahue found Jordan Evans standing just outside the crease to give the Orange a 6-3 lead, and 21 seconds later the senior attack slung a cross-crease pass to Tim Barber to further extend the lead.

Donahue now stands one point away from becoming the 17th player in program history to score 200 points.

Published on March 26, 2016 at 2:29 pm

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman