Syracuse set screen after screen but nothing worked. The Notre Dame defense walled off the goal and SU’s only overtime possession flatly ended with a desperate Sam Swart shot that was easily fended off.

After some confusion with the officials, possession swung to the Irish. A few Orange midfielders complained, but it didn’t matter. The home-team marched methodically down the field and found the offense it lacked in the second half. Andie Aldave, the nation’s top-recruit, easily cut inside and sizzled one past SU’s Asa Goldstock for the decider.

Despite controlling the second half and sending the game to an extra period, No. 9 Syracuse (6-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) slipped up against Notre Dame (6-5, 2-3), 11-10, in South Bend, Indiana.

Nicole Levy matched a season high in goals (four) and added an assist. Senior captain Riley Donahue contributed three points as well. Despite letting in the final shot, Goldstock played well in net with 11 saves. Savannah Buchanan led the Fighting Irish with two goals and three assists.

Syracuse never led, and the historic defeat marked the first time the Orange fell to an unranked ACC opponent since joining the conference five years ago.

SU stumbled out of the gate, falling victim to its season-long foil: the draw control. SU lost the first eight at the faceoff X and slipped into a four-goal deficit. Kerry Defliese’s draw with 45 seconds left in the opening half was the one and only win for the Orange.

Donahue opened the scoring in the second half and brought SU within three. Yet, two back-to-back UND possessions finished with Erin McBride celebrating the Fighting Irish’s then-five goal margin.

The Orange punched its way back before the game could slip away. It won a few more draws, caused a few more turnovers and worked inside and converted free-position shots. With 4:14 left in the game, freshman Sam Swart scored her 20th goal of the season and tied the game. Each side traded a goal a piece and the final two minutes saw each side hunting for a winner.

Notre Dame had the final possession in regulation, calling a timeout to set up its offense. In the final seconds, SU stepped up and forced a late turnover which sent the game to overtime.

Syracuse won the lone draw in overtime but its futile possession led to the eventual winner by Aldave. After the goal, UND’s bench stormed the field. Beside them, SU’s defense slowly walked off the turf, a nationally-ranked program finding itself as a bottom-dweller in the ACC.

Published on March 24, 2018 at 4:32 pm

Contact Nick: nialvare@syr.edu | @nick_a_alvarez