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Syracuse extended head coach Gary Gait’s best stretch at the helm with its sixth straight win Saturday. The Orange defeated then-No. 5 Notre Dame 14-9 — their first win over the Fighting Irish since 2018 — with a statement performance. SU held ND scoreless for 40 straight minutes from five minutes into the first quarter to one minute remaining in the third quarter. In that time, Syracuse embarked on a 9-0 run, spurred by winning 10-of-11 faceoffs.

Saturday was the Orange’s first top-5 win of the season, and they have a chance for another marquee victory when they play No. 1 Cornell Saturday on Long Island. SU is looking to avenge its 18-17 double-overtime loss in Ithaca last season, where it bottled a 16-10 third-quarter lead.

Here’s how our beat writers think No. 4 Syracuse (9-2, 2-0 Atlantic Coast) will fare versus No. 1 Cornell (9-1, 4-0 Ivy League):

Cooper Andrews (8-3)
CJ the Big Red Dog
Syracuse 14, Cornell 16

Today’s college students probably grew up with “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” the famed children’s book series and PBS cartoon. Clifford’s size may dominate the backyard, but he’s a sweet, caring and positive role model for kids. When you venture to the lacrosse field, though, a different “Big Red Dog” awaits. And he’s not as welcoming.

CJ Kirst, the Tewaaraton Award shoe-in, will carry his Cornell squad over Syracuse Saturday. No one on Long Island will bark as loudly as the Big Red’s star attack. He’ll silence the Orange, who won’t increase their winning streak to seven games.

Forty-nine goals. Seventeen assists. The nation’s points per game leader (6.60). Kirst is a force to be reckoned with, and I don’t know if SU has the proper resources to stop him. Riley Figueiras and Billy Dwan III are rock solid in coverage. But we’ve seen Figueiras, who Gait hails as Syracuse’s best coverage man, struggle against top talent; Virginia attack McCabe Millon tallied six points, while Figueiras primarily guarded him on March 29.

Joey Spallina and Co. should put up a valiant effort, though I feel Kirst will post monstrous totals in a setback outing for SU.

At the end of the day, nobody’s perfect. This is a big game in the short term, but any result wouldn’t change much. A Syracuse loss would only provide it with tape on how to beat Cornell in May. And a win could potentially mean the Orange reached their peak too soon.

Zak Wolf (9-2)
Redemption
Syracuse 15, Cornell 14 (OT)

There are plenty of ways to spend your 20th birthday. Mine was spent in Watson Hall, room 119, where I watched Syracuse capitulate in one of the most stunning lacrosse games I’ve ever seen. Saturday on Long Island, Syracuse will get its revenge and defeat Cornell for the first time since 2018. It won’t be easy, though.

It all starts with slowing down Kirst, which is easier said than done. Kirst is favored to win the Tewaraton and leads the country in points per game (6.6). That’s why I think Syracuse will let Kirst get his way and attempt to shut down the rest of Cornell’s offense. Again, easier said than done. Michael Long torched the Orange for nine points last season and is still a huge threat.

Yet, I trust John Odierna to create a game plan to quell Cornell’s offense just enough. Look at what SU did to Notre Dame. It went scoreless for 40 minutes and held Jake Taylor to one goal. The Orange don’t have to completely shut the water off like they did last week, but they need to get stops at the right times.

Cornell doesn’t present an elite defense like Maryland or Notre Dame, which will be the key difference. Spallina, Hiltz and Co. will find space and pick the Big Red apart, leading to a big offensive day. For the third straight meeting, the game will be decided in overtime, but this time Syracuse comes out on top.

Nicholas Alumkal (8-3)
Keep on Winning
Syracuse 16, Cornell 14

Syracuse is currently on Gait’s best stretch as head coach. It’s about to get even better with the Orange’s first win over the country’s No. 1 team since 2017 — an 11-10 win over then-No. 1 Notre Dame — when they down the Big Red on Saturday.

In Finn Thomson’s absence, Syracuse has found an impressive stand-in with freshman Payton Anderson. He’s tallied five points over his last two games, showcasing a poised presence at X. By anchoring behind the cage, Anderson frees up Spallina in front of the net. His vision and creativity — both as a scorer and facilitator — have added a new dimension to the Orange’s offense.

SU’s attack should have plenty of opportunities to cash in against Cornell’s middling defense. It’s the Big Red’s offense that’ll be the true test for the Orange. The Big Red’s trio of Kirst, Long and Ryan Goldstein is as electrifying as a hair dryer in a hot tub. It’ll be a tall task for Syracuse’s backline, which is tied for the sixth-best scoring defense in the nation, to slow the Big Red. There’s no chance they’ll stop them.

Syracuse faceoff specialist John Mullen is primed to exploit a clear mismatch against Jack Cascadden, continuing his scorching season. With the game on turf, Mullen will have every opportunity to unleash his full potential, unencumbered by conditions. In a tightly contested battle where every point counts, each possession will carry immense weight.

Published on April 9, 2025 at 10:38 pm