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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Heading down to American Legion Memorial Stadium at the beginning of May signifies the start of Syracuse’s postseason. The Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

Unlike last year’s trip to the Queen City, the Orange have a little more cushion. Their place in the NCAA Tournament is all but sealed. However, SU head coach Gary Gait still wanted his team to approach the tournament with the same urgency and execution it had in 2025, when it won the ACC title for the first time since 2016.

The Orange started their repeat efforts against No. 2 seed North Carolina in the semifinals. Their run in Charlotte ended there, losing 12-10 to the Tar Heels. UNC’s 5-2 fourth-quarter advantage made the difference. Luke Rhoa, Finn Thomson and Michael Leo had hat tricks, but the Tar Heels beat the Orange twice on the year. SU now awaits its NCAA Tournament opponent, which will be announced Sunday.

Here are some observations from No. 3 seed Syracuse’s (11-5, 2-2 ACC) loss to No. 2 seed North Carolina (12-3, 2-2 ACC) Friday:

Can Syracuse play a complete game?

It’s the ACC Tournament, and you have national championship aspirations, but you have no complete game on your resume — at least not for a while.

Well, Friday was the best chance for Syracuse to notch one. After playing a strong first three quarters — a three-goal UNC run to start the second half was the sole blip — SU could get one in the nick of time.

Per the ACC Network broadcast, the Orange had won 24 straight games when leading before the fourth quarter. But a narrow 8-7 advantage and SU’s recent history of capitulating down the stretch raised concerns.

Thomson capitalized on North Carolina’s defensive disorganization to pad Syracuse’s advantage just over a minute into the frame. But bone-headed Orange play seeped back into the game. Not only did Brevin Wilson half the deficit with a screamer, but John Mullen was called for tripping and Billy Dwan III was assessed a one-minute unreleasable for an illegal stick check.

Anthony Raio made SU pay for its penalties, tying the game at nine. Luke Bair then converted a wraparound bid to make it 10-9. Mason Szewczyk made it four straight for UNC and established a two-goal Tar Heel lead.

Leo came through when Syracuse needed a goal most, trimming the deficit to 11-10 with 3:01 remaining. But Wilson applied the coup de grâce. Game over. No repeat for Syracuse, only the extension of a key question heading into the NCAA Tournament. It can’t play a complete 60.

Mullen meets Wambach

When SU faceoff man Mullen last touched the turf at the ACC Tournament, he made it his element. Mullen went 34-for-43 last year (79.0%). However, this season, he’s consistently battled to hover around 50%.

His task to replicate his form at American Legion Memorial Stadium was complicated by North Carolina’s faceoff man Brady Wambach, who is fourth nationally with a 68.4% win rate. Mullen, amid his down year, is 46th.

Early on, Mullen’s past success at the venue was in his favor. He won the first two draws of the game in a defensive-oriented opening quarter.

When UNC took a 2-1 lead in the first minute of the second, Mullen helped claim the ball for SU, which led to a Leo equalizer 36 seconds after the restart. Syracuse kept winning the faceoffs to close the first half.

After taking the 4-2 lead, Mullen easily won the clamp and raced down the field. It felt like 2025 all over again. The halftime line did, too. Mullen had won 7-of-10 draws.

The seesaw tilted in Wambach’s favor in the third quarter. His three straight clamps to start the period resulted in North Carolina regaining the lead at 7-6. But Mullen picked himself off the turf he occasionally found himself splayed on in his fight to win the faceoffs.

Mullen finished with a 10-for-20 line. He couldn’t rediscover his dominance, but improved on his 33.3% showing the last time he met Wambach.

Spallina stands up

When the Orange ventured down to Chapel Hill on April 4, Spallina was there with them, but it didn’t show up on the box score. The senior was held without a point for only the fourth time in his college career.

It wasn’t solely his fault. He had two would-be assists spurned by teammates. But he took a backseat in SU’s offense for large stretches during that five-goal loss.

Even in a gritty first quarter Friday, Spallina had a larger role in Syracuse’s attack. It only took him five minutes to nab a point. He delivered a pinpoint looping pass over UNC’s defense to an open Rhoa on the doorstep. Rhoa made no mistake.

Spallina was back in his habitat at X, dictating the offense. A Spallina feed to Wyatt Hottle saw the diminutive player rattle the crossbar. Spallina took one himself midway through the second quarter, but North Carolina goalie Josh Marcus was equal to it.

How about a behind-the-back pass assist? Spallina’s good at those, and he executed one to perfection to feed Payton Anderson on the doorstep to move Syracuse’s advantage to 4-2 in the second quarter.

Spallina even helped Syracuse beat the Tar Heels’ ride in the final minute of the third quarter, coming back to the Orange’s half to complete a clear.

He didn’t blow up the scoreboard, ending with four points in SU’s loss. The Orange needed more from him to win the game, so they went home after the semifinals.

Syracuse defense tames the Tar Heels, until late

A lot of things went wrong when SU fell to North Carolina last month, but its defense’s lax coverage didn’t help. Leaving UNC attack Dominic Pietramala, arguably the best shooter in the sport, open for step-downs is a recipe for disaster. Pietramala gave the Orange a hearty helping of five goals in that game.

Yet, on Friday, Syracuse’s defense was firing on all pistons. The marking was tight. The slides and movement, quick and effective. The checks were gritty and the ground ball pickup game was clean and relentless. Defensively, the Orange seemed to be embodying the local NBA team Charlotte Hornets, buzzing around with abandon and organization.

A 1-1 score after one quarter, where each team had at least seven turnovers, and SU forcing three shot clock violations and killing a man-up penalty, was impressive.

UNC’s Wilson scored in the first minute of the second quarter. It was a play of technical mastery, and the Orange couldn’t do much. However, they didn’t let that put them off course. Matt McIntee made an important check to dislodge the ball from Peter Thomann, who was winding up to shoot on the break.

Sure, the dam started to break at the end of the first half. UNC scored two goals in 13 seconds, immediately replying to the Orange, taking a three-goal lead. Not good. But look at it holistically: Four first-half goals allowed is tremendous viewing.

Like the faceoffs, SU couldn’t stick to that level in the second half. UNC scored three unanswered points in the first five minutes to take the lead. The one-two punch of Owen Duffy and Pietramala applied the last two.

SU’s defense had arguably its best showing all season, but it couldn’t maintain its vice-tight level for the full 60. Just look at allowing five fourth-quarter goals. It’s a story within the bigger story: Syracuse can’t put together a full game.

Published on May 1, 2026 at 10:47 pm
Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu | @nalumkal