FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Syracuse will try to push the pace on offense and Cornell will try to control the tempo with its defense when they meet in the NCAA men's Division I lacrosse championship on Monday.
Second-seeded and defending champion Syracuse got goals from nine players in a 17-7 victory over Duke in one semifinal on Saturday. Cornell, meanwhile, was putting the clamps on top-seeded Virginia for a 15-6 win to reach its first final since 1988, when it lost to Syracuse.
“Syracuse is like Virginia in that they love to push the pace,” said Cornell midfielder Randy Romero, who had two goals and an assist against Virginia. “If we just stay the course for four quarters and play a very disciplined style of lacrosse, I think as we saw last game, we could do that again against Syracuse.”
The Orange beat Cornell 15-10 at Syracuse during the regular season.
Syracuse is making its 16th appearance in the final, an NCAA record, and has won 10 times, another record. The Orangemen are looking to become the first Division I team to defend the title since Princeton won three straight from 1996-98.
Cornell won the first-ever Division I title in 1971 and took titles in 1976 and 1977. The Big Red also lost in the finals in 1987 to Johns Hopkins.
Syracuse coach John Desko said the Big Red's offense has been a key to their recent success.
“They're valuing their possessions and making other teams play a lot of defense,” he said.
Desko noted that Cornell (13-3) has beaten the two teams in the tournament - Virginia and Princeton in the quarterfinals - that beat Syracuse (15-2) during the regular season.
In Syracuse's win over Duke, attackman Kenny Nims and midfielder Patrick Perritt each had four goals. Attackman Cody Jamieson, who didn't play against Cornell during the regular season, continued his red-hot play with two goals, giving him six for the NCAA tournament. A lot of attention will also be paid to midfielders Max Seibald of Cornell and Matt Abbott of Syracuse. Both are finalists for college lacrosse's highest honor, the Tewaaraton Award.
On TV
Syracuse vs. Cornell, 1 p.m., ESPN
“Syracuse is like Virginia in that they love to push the pace,” said Cornell midfielder Randy Romero, who had two goals and an assist against Virginia. “If we just stay the course for four quarters and play a very disciplined style of lacrosse, I think as we saw last game, we could do that again against Syracuse.”
The Orange beat Cornell 15-10 at Syracuse during the regular season.
Syracuse is making its 16th appearance in the final, an NCAA record, and has won 10 times, another record. The Orangemen are looking to become the first Division I team to defend the title since Princeton won three straight from 1996-98.
Cornell won the first-ever Division I title in 1971 and took titles in 1976 and 1977. The Big Red also lost in the finals in 1987 to Johns Hopkins.
Syracuse coach John Desko said the Big Red's offense has been a key to their recent success.
“They're valuing their possessions and making other teams play a lot of defense,” he said.
Desko noted that Cornell (13-3) has beaten the two teams in the tournament - Virginia and Princeton in the quarterfinals - that beat Syracuse (15-2) during the regular season.
In Syracuse's win over Duke, attackman Kenny Nims and midfielder Patrick Perritt each had four goals. Attackman Cody Jamieson, who didn't play against Cornell during the regular season, continued his red-hot play with two goals, giving him six for the NCAA tournament. A lot of attention will also be paid to midfielders Max Seibald of Cornell and Matt Abbott of Syracuse. Both are finalists for college lacrosse's highest honor, the Tewaaraton Award.
On TV
Syracuse vs. Cornell, 1 p.m., ESPN
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