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Syracuse’s season was effectively over with 11 minutes left of its NCAA Tournament first round matchup against Harvard. At the time, the Orange trailed 11-6 and were playing their worst lacrosse of the season.

Though that was before they rattled off six straight goals to take their first lead of the game. Despite Owen Gaffney tying the game with six seconds left, Owen Hiltz won the game for Syracuse in overtime.

Hiltz’s goal put Syracuse in the quarterfinals for the second straight season, setting up a date with No. 3 seed Princeton. It fell to Denver 10-8 in this round last year, crushing its hopes of its first Final Four since 2013. A year later, the Orange have a chance to crush those demons.

The task won’t be easy. Princeton has been an elite team all season, owning just three defeats on the year. The Tigers boast one of the most dangerous offenses in the country, headed by the program’s all-time leading scorer and Tewaaraton Award finalist Coulter Mackesy. A win will end Syracuse’s longest-ever drought without a Final Four. A loss means the Orange will fall short in a season full of championship aspirations.

Here’s how our beat writers think No. 6 seed Syracuse (12-5, 2-2 Atlantic Coast) will fare in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals against No. 3 seed Princeton (13-3, 5-1 Ivy League) Saturday.

Cooper Andrews (11-6)
Return of the Mack(esy)
Syracuse 11, Princeton 14

This Syracuse team is difficult to predict. The Orange are weird. They often defy logic. I mean, how in the universe does a team whose faceoff guy went 24-of-28 only scrape by to win by one goal? Scheme, statistics and personnel don’t seem to matter for them. They’re either an unstoppable force or a motionless punching bag. There’s a randomness to Syracuse — which makes it all the more dangerous.

But there’s one trend that’s rang true throughout the 2025 season: when Syracuse allows an oppositions’ No. 1 attack to pick its defense apart, it falters. Its three-game losing streak to end the regular season told the whole story. Cornell star CJ Kirst exploded for eight points. Duke’s Eric Malever tallied five goals a week later. UNC’s Dominic Pietramala racked up six goals. Three attacks who went ballistic directly caused three SU defeats.

I can only imagine Mackesy is itching for Saturday’s opening faceoff.

Numbers-wise, the Orange and Tigers have nearly identical offenses. Though the difference is consistency. Syracuse is prone to long, inactive stretches that simply don’t happen to Princeton, and that’s because Mackesy is a tone setter. The No. 4 pick in the 2025 Premier Lacrosse League Draft is one of the country’s most pinpoint finishers, which will be made abundantly clear on Saturday.

Mackesy will put Syracuse behind the 8-ball early, and the Orange won’t recover easily. Princeton lead faceoff man Andrew McMeekin won’t allow John Mullen to win anything close to 90% of his faceoffs, so expect the Tigers to materialize plenty of scoring chances. SU’s offense will make a late push to salvage a close contest, but it’s tough for me to envision its season surviving this weekend in Hempstead.

Zak Wolf (10-7)
Free Bird
Syracuse 12, Princeton 14

A couple weeks ago, while watching highlights of Princeton’s Ivy League Semifinal bout against Cornell, I couldn’t help but notice the prevalence of the song “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Every time the Tigers scored, the song was put on at full blast. It was a lot. They scored 14 times by the five minute mark of the third quarter. Even though Princeton lost that game 20-15, it demonstrated what its offense is capable of.

I have a feeling even the most avid Lynyrd Skynyrd fanatics in Syracuse are going to be sick of the tune by the time they leave James M. Shuart Stadium Saturday. It’s not just Mackesy who Syracuse needs to worry about – Nate Kabiri is just as effective as an outside shooter. The two can score from almost any angle, and their ability to stretch defenses opens lanes for secondary options like Colin Burns, Chad Palumbo and Tucker Wade.

Syracuse’s offense can keep up with anyone, though its penchant for extended droughts remains a concern. Princeton’s defense is anchored by Ivy League goalie of the year Ryan Croddick, who makes 14.25 saves per game, the third most in the country. As good as Jimmy McCool has played this season, he’s had severe low points this season versus Cornell and in both games against Harvard.

His most recent five-save performance against the Crimson presents me with doubts, while Croddick’s consistency gives me more confidence in Princeton. In a game that’s going to be full of offense, Croddick will make a couple key stops to put the Tigers over the top and break Syracuse’s hearts for a second straight year.

Nicholas Alumkal (10-7)
Old Nassau prevail in Nassau
Syracuse 12, Princeton 15

Princeton’s nickname is The Old Nassau. That’s the name of its fight song, too. The oldest building on campus, storied Nassau Hall, once moonlighted as the U.S. Capitol. Why the Ivy League history lesson? Because Saturday’s NCAA quarterfinal isn’t being played in New Jersey — it’s being staged in Nassau County, New York.

In the 1900s, if you wanted to win lacrosse titles, you chose Syracuse or Princeton. Together, they racked up 16 national championships. But Princeton’s trophy case has gathered dust since 2001, and Syracuse hasn’t cut down the nets since 2009.

It was the same story in sportswriting. Both schools were byline pipelines. Princeton once churned out some of the best — Frank Deford, Alexander Wolff and Grant Wahl. Now? Syracuse still carries that torch, even if lacrosse titles have dried up. Yet here I am: a sportswriter at SU siding with the Tigers.

In a game full of symbolism, the Tigers might feel right at home — even if the crowd’s allegiance is split. And I’m with my fellow scribe Cooper, Mackesy is poised to bulldoze through Syracuse’s defense like other stars have all season.

But the question is: which Syracuse team will show up, and for how long?

We’ve seen flashes of brilliance — particularly against Notre Dame and Duke in the ACC Tournament. The defense held firm. The offense clicked. In those moments, it looked like a Final Four team. Problem is, those moments feel like mirages.

Against Princeton’s attack, five sloppy minutes could be fatal. Unlike Harvard, Mullen won’t dominate every faceoff. And Syracuse hasn’t proven it can trade punches for four quarters. SU’s X-factor is Jimmy McCool. He can steal a game when he’s locked in, like in the ACC Semifinal. But asking him to do it on this stage against Princeton is a tall order.

So cue the fight song. Old Nassau is heading from Nassau County to the Final Four.

Published on May 14, 2025 at 7:09 pm