Syracuse earns No. 1 ranking in Inside Lacrosse Poll for 1st time since 2020
It’s the first time the Orange are the top-ranked team since 2020, which comes after their 11-9 win over then-No. 1 Maryland last Friday. Zoe Xixis | Asst. Photo Editor
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For the first time since 2020, Syracuse men’s lacrosse is the top-ranked team in the country. The Orange claimed the top spot in Inside Lacrosse’s latest top 20 poll, which was released Monday. They earned the ranking due to an 11-9 win over then-No. 1 Maryland in the JMA Wireless Dome.
It was Syracuse’s first win over a No. 1 team since beating Virginia in 2011 and its first victory over Maryland in nine tries. The Orange had lost every matchup with the Terrapins since John Tillman took over in 2011, including in last season’s Final Four.
This time was a different story. After being held to one point by Will Schaller at Gillette Stadium in May, Joey Spallina exploded for four goals. John Mullen started hot, winning nine of his first 10 faceoffs. Even though he cooled off, finishing 11-of-21, Mullen’s dominance allowed SU to score five straight goals to put it up 6-2.
Maryland didn’t go away, cutting Syracuse’s lead to one multiple times, including with 13 minutes left. Amid a 15-minute drought, freshman Bogue Hahn rifled home a low shot past Brian Ruppel with nine minutes left to make it 11-9.
From there, the Orange’s defense took care of business. Billy Dwan III and Riley Figueiras shut off Maryland’s water and Jimmy McCool saved any shot that came his way.
Syracuse’s No. 1 ranking doesn’t mean the next few weeks will be a walk in the park. The Orange are about to embark on a six-game road trip and won’t play a home game until March 22 against Georgetown. SU’s next two contests come against No. 14 Harvard and No. 12 Princeton, the two teams it knocked out of the NCAA Tournament last season.
