EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On a night when John Galloway became the winningest goaltender in NCAA history and made a season-high 16 saves, all he could do was shake his head in the postgame press conference.

‘Eleven,’ the senior Galloway said. ‘That’s the bigger number in this game. That’s not something we pride ourselves on as a defense in letting up that many goals.’

Though Galloway wasn’t happy with his own performance in goal, Duke attack Zach Howell didn’t buy it.

‘Sixteen saves,’ Howell said sarcastically. ‘Yeah, I guess that’s a bad day.’

Galloway repeatedly found ways to turn back the No. 3 Blue Devils’ attack as No. 1 SU held off a late Duke rally Sunday to win 13-11 at New Meadowlands Stadium. While Syracuse’s offense sputtered in the second half — as it has many times this season — Galloway played one of his best games this year in goal. And that performance helped the senior to his 52nd career win, a new NCAA Division I record.

‘It was a special win to beat Duke in our season,’ Galloway said.

And it was a win in which the senior played a huge role, making saves right from the early moments of Sunday’s game. Duke won the opening faceoff, and the Blue Devils drew a penalty on SU midfielder Kevin Drew. It gave them a man-up opportunity on the first possession of the game.

Duke junior Justin Turri tested Galloway from about 15 yards out, but the goalie went down to his knees to pop the shot out of bounds. SU was closest to the ball as it rolled out, giving the Orange possession and ending the Blue Devils’ first chance of the game.

Duke would keep the senior busy for the rest of the night, firing 42 shots throughout the game. But despite 17 of those attempts coming in the first half, they only mustered two scores in the first 30 minutes.

‘I think he played well,’ Howell said. ‘He made a lot of saves. I don’t think we shot particularly well. We didn’t change location a lot, shot up high a lot. A great goalie is going to make those saves.’

The Blue Devils did manage to score nine second-half goals, and that drew Galloway’s ire after the game. But many of the senior’s 16 saves came on shots right next to the crease, helping the Orange hold off Duke’s late charge.

After CJ Costabile won the opening faceoff of the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils quickly moved the ball up field. That led to a chance from the doorstep, but Galloway was there for a stick save to kill a potential momentum-turning opportunity for SU.

‘I thought the shots that went in were good shots,’ Duke head coach John Danowski said. ‘I thought that you make 16 saves in a Division I game, you’re playing great.’

Danowski also praised Galloway for his work outside the net.

The goalie came out of the cage to make a reaching, one-handed interception with less than a minute left in the first half. His long clearing pass was stolen away near midfield, leading to another opportunity for the Blue Devils.

Howell turned that chance into a shot attempt with 10 seconds left to capitalize on the goalie’s turnover, but Galloway went down to his knees to stuff the Duke attack. And although he did throw the ball away twice Sunday, his trademark long-distance clearing passes were on display throughout the night.

Galloway may have been more concerned with Duke’s 11 goals than his season-high 16 saves or his record-setting win total. But although he refused to give himself any credit after the win, he said the record will be something special for him and his teammates in the future.

‘I have to make some of those saves in the second half,’ Galloway said. ‘And it would have been a little bit more enjoyable of a win. But that (record) is going to be one of those things that we reflect on years after we graduate, and we can cherish that.

‘Right now, it’s all about this season.’

zjbrown@syr.edu

Published on April 3, 2011 at 12:00 pm