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Luke Rhoa doesn’t just shoot — he detonates. The Syracuse junior midfielder rips shots with such fury and flair that they seem to bend the laws of physics. Left hand, right hand — it doesn’t matter. He’s ambidextrous, unpredictable and utterly unafraid to pull the trigger.

Now a junior and first-year starter, Rhoa has become something of an X-factor in the Orange’s midfield — a 6-foot riddle wrapped in torque and swagger. His shot selection often borders on the outrageous, and with a 23% shooting clip — in the 30th percentile nationally — it sometimes shows.

But when the Maryland native’s shooting radar is locked in, he’s a heat-seeking missile launcher in cleats. He’s developed as a dodger this season, and the former No. 24 recruit in the Class of 2022 has already tallied a career-high 22 goals, turning flashes of brilliance into something close to consistent production.

And on Sunday, when the Orange needed salvation, Rhoa delivered divine intervention. No. 6 seed Syracuse (12-5, 2-2 Atlantic Coast) were flatlining against a confident Harvard (10-5, 4-2 Ivy League) side in the NCAA Tournament First Round. Then Rhoa turned up, unbothered and unrelenting, scoring a team-high and tied-for-a-career-high four goals — including the only two SU tallied in a dismal first half. He then sparked a miraculous five-goal, 99-second blitz that resurrected the Orange’s season and set them on course for the eventual 13-12 overtime win.

“He was fantastic. One of his best shooting days,” Syracuse head coach Gary Gait said postgame.

Gait added that Rhoa’s four goals on just nine shots showed how efficient and dialed-in he was. The head coach called the performance “awesome” and “spectacular,” heaping high praise on his midfielder with a high-speed shot.

When Syracuse’s offense was languishing 12 minutes in the first quarter — down 3-0, with three turnovers, losing the ground-ball battle 8-4 — Rhoa took orders into his own hands and put SU on the board with one of his trademark dodges and blasts.

On the right side of the attacking zone, Rhoa raced by his marker, Crimson midfielder Owen Guest, with his acceleration from stop to go and then smote a shot with his weaker left hand.

With the Orange continuing to spiral in the first half, trailing 7-1 with 5:15 left in the quarter, Rhoa once again supplied a much-needed scoring boost.

The midfielder again created the chance for himself, carrying the ball into the attacking zone. He spun Guest and bounced his bid under freshman Harvard goalie Graham Stevens without halting his movement. This time, he applied the finishing touch with his right arm, beating the slide of two Crimson defenders.

Gait noticed Harvard wasn’t frequently sliding on defense, which he said allowed Rhoa to dodge free of his marker and capitalize on the openings with his precise shooting and ability to score on the move.

The Crimson head coach Gerry Byrne said they didn’t make any “special plans” to defend Rhoa and his skillset. He complimented the junior for breaking through their defense, which was put at a disadvantage by Syracuse’s dominance at the faceoff X. SU went 24-for-28 on draws, giving the Orange repeated and constant possessions.

“He made some really nice weak-handed and really good shots, which I think he should be applauded for,” Byrne said postgame.

After Rhoa scored four goals versus then-No. 16 Towson in SU’s 18-7 win on Feb. 10, Rhoa said the secret behind his shooting power is his sticks are strung by former St. John’s College High School (Maryland) and current Navy attack Mac Haley and former Syracuse midfielder Jake Stevens.

“They put some magic in (my sticks),” Rhoa said following the Towson win.

That magic was on show as Rhoa and Syracuse used their sorcery to score five goals in 1:39 to flip a five-goal deficit into an 11-11 tie with 8:49 left in the fourth quarter.

The junior caught the ball in the right alley and again took on his marker, Ray Dearth. As he cut toward the center of the field, he tattooed a lefty tracer bullet into the top right corner to make it a four-goal game. Rhoa’s release? Smoother than the back of the spoon. Stopping it? Like trying to wrestle with a ghost.

After SU exploded for three goals in 49 seconds on an extra-man opportunity, Harvard returned to full strength. Rhoa was undeterred, scoring 22 seconds after the restart to bring the Orange level for the first time since it was 0-0.

The midfielder peeled away from the Crimson backline, carving out shooting space just inside the offensive zone. Michael Leo found him on a pass. Before Harvard could react, Rhoa was already in motion. By the time defenders closed in, the ball had already rippled the back of the net. In the blink of an eye, Rhoa can transform a fleeting opportunity into an unforgettable finish, as swift and lethal as a striking predator.

That’s what he did repeatedly Sunday — and what Syracuse embodied in its unforgettable fourth-quarter comeback: strike fast, strike true. There was Rhoa, slinging a shot into the top right corner like he was stamping postage on a ticket to the next round.

Thanks to Rhoa’s heroics, Syracuse is still standing — next stop: Hempstead, New York, for a date with No. 3 seed Princeton in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

He wasn’t supposed to be the hero. But when Syracuse needed a pulse, Rhoa gave it a heartbeat — loud, relentless, impossible to ignore.

This wasn’t just shot-making. It was a statement.

Rhoa’s goal-bound rockets are as relentless as Syracuse’s pursuit of a national title. With each strike, he’s not just scoring — he’s forging the path to a first Final Four since 2013, and a first national championship since 2009. If his shot stays true, so will the Orange’s quest for glory.

Published on May 11, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu | @nalumkal