Division I Men :      March 29, 2003 [ The Game Story]
Syracuse 16 Brown 7 Scoring: Scoring: Michael Powell Michael Springer Liam Banks Sean Lindsay Brian Nee Steve Vallone Pat Hogan Mike Smith Alex Zink Greg Rommel (3, 3) (3, 2) (1, 3) (3, 0) (2, 1) (1, 1) (1, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) (0, 1) Britton Derkac Rory Hyland Chazz Woodson Jonathon Thompson Christopher Mucciolo Richard Tuohey (2, 0) (0, 2) (1, 1) (2, 0) (2, 0) (0, 1) Saves: Saves: Jay Pfeifer Nick Donatelli 9  (0.600) 1  (0.500) Mike Levin 16  (0.500) Current Record :     (5-2) Current Record :     (2-4) Team Page For 2003 Team Page For 2003       The Game Story:

An excited Brown team visited the Carrier Dome Saturday and gave the reigning National Champions a game…. for about a quarter. After jumping out to a quick 3-1 lead capped off with a goal 18 seconds into the second quarter, Brown was subject to Syracuse’s heavy offensive pressure which was too much for them to ‘bear’.

Syracuse struggled early on with hitting the net on their shots, but once they got comfortable they cruised to an easy win. After only a slim two-goal lead at halftime, Syracuse exploded with 9 goals in the second half. Everyone knew the game was out of reach for Brown when Syracuse scored 4 unanswered goals in the third to put it at 11-5.

Mike Powell proved again he has returned to normal form with his 6 point (3g, 3a) performance. I personally don’t understand why people would begin talking after he has a couple low point games, but I guess that’s the way it is.

In the first quarter Brown looked pretty sharp. They were clearing the ball fairly well and their passes were crisp, but I think their success had to do with Syracuse’s early game woes. It definitely took them a while to get in gear and once they did their wasn’t much Brown could do. The attack of Springer, Banks, Nee, and Powell that combined for 18 points (9g, 9a) in the game is just too potent. Against these guys you have to play perfect defensively because if you don’t they are going to find a way to exploit you.

Syracuse’s man down unit was definitely on top of their game as well later in the fourth when they killed a 3-minute non-releasable penalty that was served for an illegal stick. I couldn’t hear the announcer on the PA system so I’m not sure which player in particular it was called against. There was a point when Brown was getting off shot after shot right in front of goalie Jay Pfiefer and was stoned on every one. The crowd really reacted to it. It is play like this that is going to give the SU defense more and more confidence later in the season.

Syracuse travels to Loyola next weekend and Brown hosts Yale on Wednesday.

Attendance at Saturday’s game was 4,316.