AMHERST, Mass. — Mike Springer’s stick, grasped firmly between his hands, was pressing against his helmet as he stood on the sidelines in disbelief.

Following No. 7 Syracuse’s 14-13 overtime loss to No. 4 Massachusetts, Springer — along with almost every other SU player — watched Massachusetts fans rush the field to join players in celebration.

Springer looked on steadfast and emotionless despite having led SU with four goals. The game marked the fifth time Springer, an attacker, has scored more than three goals in a game this season, tying attacker Mike Powell for the team lead.

The four goals were the most Springer has scored since Syracuse’s third game, a March 10 win over Fairfield, 19-6, when he scored five.

Even so, Springer refused to comment after the loss.

“We were very happy with how Mike played,” SU head coach John Desko said. “He hadn’t been going to the goal as much these last few games. Today, he made up his mind. He was going to elevate his game, and he did. He made some nice dodges. He came up with some big goals for us today.”

After UMass took a 9-6 lead early in the second half, it began to take control. But Springer scored two consecutive goals in a five-minute span to bring SU within one.

Springer’s production was necessary because Desko stationed Powell around the net for most of the second and third quarters, leaving much of the attacking to Springer and Liam Banks, who scored three goals in the second quarter.

“They were shutting (Powell) off at that point,” Desko said. “Liam Banks had just dodged for a goal and so had Mike. I was just giving (Powell) a rest and letting the other guys go to the goal.”

“Most teams’ game plan is to try and slow me down,” Powell said. “So I was being used as sort of a decoy down there.”

The plan apparently worked. Powell found Springer sprinting to the cage for his second goal. Springer’s fourth goal, with 55 seconds left in the third, gave Syracuse its first lead of the game, 10-9.

But Springer failed to deliver Syracuse a win. With two minutes remaining and SU trailing, 13-12, Springer, positioned behind the net, ran around defenders and fired a shot from point-blank range. Goalie Bill Schell stopped the shot.

Twenty seconds later, Springer split the defense and fired another shot at Schell, who once again made a spectacular save.

Springer has 28 goals this season, four more than Powell. Still, Powell leads SU with 48 points compared to Springer’s 46.

“Mike usually does it quietly,” Powell said. “He got down on himself for not making that last goal. But you can’t get down on yourself when you have four goals already.”

Published on April 27, 2003 at 12:00 pm