Head Coach Gary Gait and Co. Still in Search of Signature Win.
By Luke Burgess | @BurgessLuke03
When Army attackman Jackson Eicher fired a shot past the legs of SU Goalie Will Mark on Wednesday night, it began just the next iteration in what has been a three-year struggle for Gary Gait’s signature win.
The Orange are 0-2 so far this year in games against top 10 opponents, and 1-13 under Gait in those matchups. But despite building worry that Gait’s squad will continue to struggle against the best of the best in college lacrosse, the third-year bench boss isn’t so worried.
“The great thing is we have a lot of games left against top 10 opponents. We’ll get one, then two, then three…We can hopefully look back at these two overtime losses as important games for us with how we finish the season.” Gait said.
It isn’t just Gait who’s struggled against the best of the best. Star Attacker Joey Spallina was held goalless for just the second time in his young career against the Black Knights. The only other time he’s been held out of the goal column was against another top-five squad. Last year at Virginia Spallina struggled to generate offense.
The Sophomore has still been dominant in his first two seasons with the Orange. He’s yet to be held without a point in any game of his career.
“It’s tough when there is just so much pressure on [Spallina] right now. We have to give him the tools to have success, and we’re going to work on that.” Gait affirmed.
Syracuse doesn’t have much time to work before another matchup comes to the JMA Wireless Dome. The High Point Panthers make a stop in the 315 this Saturday, coming in with a 4-1 record, HPU poses a big threat, however that one loss is the only ranked contest it’s played all season. A 21-9 loss against current number 1 Duke.
Gait referred to the chances that are still to come, and there are certainly plenty.
The Orange hit the road for the first time following the High Point contest. They’ll take on Number eight Johns Hopkins in Charlotte at the Crown Lacrosse Classic. I’ll have coverage for you from North Carolina.
Mixed in with a trip to Ithca to take on Cornell, three of the other four ACC schools are currently in the top ten. Duke and Virginia are one and two respectively, while Notre Dame sits at sixth in the nation. UNC also ranks inside the top 20 at 18th. Even Delaware, who SU takes outside of Washington D.C. in two weeks, ranks 19th in the nation.
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