MLAX : Syracuse pesters Princeton’s clear attempts; Palasek ties career-high with 4 goals
Syracuse’s win over Princeton was as much about the way it disrupted the Tigers’ clear attempts as it was about finding the back of the net. On six different occasions, Princeton failed to clear the ball into its offensive zone, as the Orange hacked away on the Tigers as they tried to bring the ball up the field.
When SU scored its final, game-winning goal after it forced Princeton to turn the ball over on a clear attempt, the importance and significance of the Orange’s physical rides became especially evident.
‘Coach (Kevin Donahue) has got great riding schemes,’ Syracuse attack Tommy Palasek said. ‘We work on it in practice all the time. Coach (Kevin) Donahue sets us up in the right place to be successful all the time. And then from there, he’s got to trust that we’re going to go out there and play 100 percent.’
Princeton cleared the ball successfully on 15 of its 21 attempts, a relatively low number but a testament to the riding schemes Donahue instituted into the game plan. Syracuse threw in several different schemes to throw Princeton off its clearing game, and even when it managed to get the ball to its end of the field, it repeatedly had trouble holding onto it.
The Orange’s defense forced the Tigers into an astounding 19 turnovers, something Princeton head coach Chris Bates said ultimately decided the game for the Orange.
‘They forced us to turn the ball over and that was the difference in the game,’ Bates said. ‘We didn’t play with enough poise to win it, and that’s what Syracuse does to you.’
Syracuse’s final goal by Palasek came when the Orange disrupted a Princeton clear.
The schemes Donahue threw into Syracuse’s repertoire worked to perfection multiple times, and after the game, head coach John Desko was quick to give praise to both Donahue and his players for the stellar execution.
‘My hats off for the preparation for all these guys, knowing where they’re supposed to go and what they’re supposed to do,’ Desko said, ‘and create some of those turnovers, which are pretty big in a one-goal game like this.’
Palasek leads the way offensively
At first glance, Princeton head coach Chris Bates said Palasek doesn’t provide a lot of ‘wow’ factor to the game. Bates describes him as opportunistic, but not necessarily as a big-time playmaker.
On Saturday, the senior attack changed the game with his underestimated playmaking ability from behind the cage.
‘Tom is a good feeder, kind of crafty, doesn’t typically run by you a whole lot, so I mean again, two big goals and it’s a one-goal game, I tip my hat to the kid,’ Bates said.
In a hard-fought 10-9 victory for Syracuse, Palasek powered the offense. He finished with four goals, including the game-winner, and an assist to pace the Orange attack. His first two goals kept SU within one in the first half, helping the Orange stay within striking distance at the start of the second half. His next two came at crucial points in the contest that ended in a win for Syracuse.
After Ryan Barber’s shot attempt with 13 seconds left in the first half went wide of the goal, the SU attack took possession along the left sideline.
He darted in front of defender Jonathan Meyers, forcing his way into the crease, where he beat Princeton goalie Tyler Fiorito as he was knocked to the ground with seven seconds left. It’s a matchup Bates said he’s confident Meyers would win, rarely getting beat underneath by opponents.
But Palasek snuck through and gave his team some confidence heading into the break. In his second year at Syracuse, Desko said the senior has picked up all the offenses and now, he’s thriving as a feeder and playmaker.
‘Tommy’s really been playing well for us in a number of different ways the last few games,’ Desko said. ‘I think he started out a little bit slow. I think his understanding of what his role is and what he can do has gotten better.’
His fourth and final score was the most important as it gave Syracuse the lead for good with just over four minutes left in the game. Palasek found himself all alone near the crease as Princeton attempted to clear the ball.
But the Orange forced a turnover and Tim Desko hit Palasek with a long pass for the finish.
‘Fortunately, I was just standing 10 yards from the cage and Timmy made a great pass from the middle of the two defenseman and I just turned and shot it,’ Palasek said.
