Before Syracuse buried Colgate 19-6 on Saturday, the team honored its nine seniors with a pregame Senior Day ceremony.

The Orange formed two lines in front of the tunnel by its bench, and each senior walked through with family escorting them to handshakes from head coach John Desko, athletic director Daryl Gross and lastly, director of operations Roy Simmons III.

By the time seniors and parents posed for a group shot between the 30- and 40-yard line, Dominic Lamolinara, Derek Maltz, Matt Harris, Drew Jenkins, Billy Ward, Pat Powderly, Kyle Henry, Scott Loy and Chris Daddio had walked through the line as a prelude to an easy victory at the Carrie Dome.

Every senior saw time but Powderly, who sported a blue jump suit and sat with an injury.

“It was weird,” said Lamolinara before starting in goal. “But it was a great feeling going out with a group of guys that I’ve gotten so close with.

“Other than that it was just a game and I’m glad we came out with the win.”

The seniors made the most of their final regular-season home game.

Daddio jumpstarted Syracuse by winning 10-of-15 first-half faceoffs — and 15-of-21 overall — before being pulled for Mike Iacono in the third quarter. Lamolinara allowed three goals in the first two frames. Harris and Jenkins were key cogs in a defensive effort that held Colgate to just six goals and none in the third. Loy netted a goal to push the Orange ahead 17-3 just before the fourth.

And even Henry, a reserve attack that has seldom seen the field this season, got some playing time when Desko rolled out his bench for the last 18 minutes of play.

Syracuse will have a quick turnaround before gearing up for NCAA tournament play beginning next weekend. This senior class has yet to capture a national title, and had one last chance to celebrate before making that final run.

Said Daddio: “It was a good feeling, it’s nice to win on Senior Day.”

Published on May 3, 2014 at 9:30 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse