Division I Men :      May 15, 2005 [ The Game Story]
Massachusetts 16 Syracuse 15 Scoring: Scoring: Jeff Zywicki Sean Morris Matt Tundo Brian Jacovina Brett Garber Andrew Recchione Christopher Doyle Ryan Connolly (6, 1) (3, 3) (1, 1) (1, 1) (2, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) Mike Leveille Brian Crockett Brett Bucktooth Steven Brooks Greg Niewieroski Greg Rommel (2, 2) (4, 0) (4, 0) (1, 3) (1, 2) (3, 0) Saves: Saves: Efosa Guobodia Bill Schell 9  (0.391) 2  (0.667) Jay Pfeifer 7  (0.304) Current Record :     (13-2) Current Record :     (7-6) Team Page For 2005 Team Page For 2005       The Game Story:

The suspense of the April 30th UMass vs. defending champion Syracuse sequel lived up to its promise. Down 13-14, Syracuse had scored three in a row, but failed to convert on back-to-back EMOs at the six-minute mark. UMass’ Sean Morris rallied behind the cry of 4038 strong to tip the game (and Tewaarton vote) by closing the deal at 1:15 giving UMass the 16-15 edge.

Both teams were well-matched and at times demonstrated balanced, well-disciplined ball movement. UMass’ Jeff Zywicki showed little mercy finding the net six times (1a) while starting goalie Efosa Guobodia demonstrated dynamic athleticism.

Game brief
The Minutemen dictated the lion share of game momentum with the Orangemen trailing with a narrowing-4-goal-to-0-goal differential. The true tournament test came in the final minutes of regulation for both teams.

UMass’ top gun senior Sean Morris who had been unusually timid on the trigger navigated the crease with the precision and steady hand of a veteran admiral leading his fleet to a familiar shore. Failure was not an option, especially with nearly one minute on the clock.

By contrast, the defending champions squandered several key opportunities with less than six minutes on the clock. While UMass did perform up to tournament standard, they hardly faced the same team gunning for the crown a year ago.

The game, the season for that matter revealed a more human side of a program built on what seemed to be Mount Olympus. This time, Cinderella’s shoe was two sizes too big. Despite the combined season 153 goal-effort of Crockett, Leveille, Bucktooth, and Brooks, it wasn’t enough in the end. Whether you are in uniform or in a suit, you don’t need a coach or manager to point out the simple truth that you can’t confuse effort with results.

The 2004 offense of Powell, Crockett, Knee, and Lindsay generated 227 goals in one season. And while the game averages for 2004 and 2005 varied by only two goals per game, the more immeasurable metric was far greater. In 2004, you didn’t have just one bankable closer, but several.

Experience, leadership, and trust don’t always come in blue chips nor is it guaranteed with age. And then there is the issue of who will rise to the occasion and fill in the leadership gap. You can’t possibly ask your goalie to shoulder such responsibility. It’s the wrong pair of shoes for the wrong job. Senior SU keeper walks away with tournament tokens and perhaps an opportunity at redemption in the pro-afterlife in a path similar to Tillman Johnson’s (post) senior season(s).

The test of this rising northeast squad will come when David will meet Goliath next week.

Game detail
No. 8 UMass and Syracuse were tied at 11 SOGs a piece in the first quarter with the Minutemen outscoring the Orangemen 4-2. UMass goalie Efosa Guobodia out-saved his Syracuse counterpart 8-1 in the first half. Syracuse won the face-off at the whistle. Midfielder Jarett Park managed a shot on goal. One minute later UMass attackman Jeff Zywicki rolled the right side crease and shot past Pfeifer’s left hip at 12:59 (1-0). Teammate Brett Garber followed up with a goal from up top taking Pfeifer between the dime hole at 11:20 (2-0).

Syracuse responded with two goals. UMass defender Jack Reid was called for pushing. Attackman Brett Bucktooth got the EMO goal on a low riser from top left that hit upper 90. Steven Brooks is credited with the assist at 10:15 (1-2). The Orangemen scored their next goal off of transition with a save from Pfeiffer square on his chest. Pfeifer found long stick Scott Ditzell on the clear who then dished off to Brian Crockett who lined up top for a top left shot at 6:01 (2-2).

UMass rounded off the first period scoring with two goals. Zywicki plowed through a high double and took Pfeifer on the off pace right hip shot at: 59 (3-2). Minuteman Chris Doyle got his 15th goal for the season off an assist from Sean Morris. Doyle found the lower right corner of the net with 11 seconds (4-2).

UMass edged out SU 3-2 in the second period with the Orangemen out-shooting the Minuteman 15-8. SU won the face-off but UMass defender Matt Garcia caused a turnover. Sean Morris scored his 40th goal of the season with an incredible off-pace shot. Morris survived a wall of low defenders and managed to get a behind the back shot off the ground (5-2) at 13:44.

SU rallied for two goals three minutes later. Greg Niewieroski found Brooks from X. Brooks screened Guobodia with his defender and went top left (3-5). Bucktooth brought the minuteman within one when he scored on a left hip shot as he rolled the crease at 7:59 (4-5).

UMass capped off the period again scoring two goals. Jake Deane assisted Zywicki on a transition goal at 7:49 (6-4). Sean Morris passed to a very quick Brian Jacovina who used the screen in front for righty hip shot that clipped the post (7-4) at 5:42.

The third period was the most goal-prolific for both teams with a combined output of 13 goals. SU out-scored UMass 7-6 while the Minutemen out-shot the Orangemen 19-9. UMass opened the scoring with a lefty bouncer from Connolly at 13:29 (8-4) giving the Minuteman their largest margin of the game.

SU’s Brooks assisted Greg Rommel on his 23rd goal of the season at 11:30 (5-8). Morris scored for UMass at 30 seconds later off an assist from Brian Jacovina (9-5). Syracuse’s Brian Crockett scored one of his three third period goals hitting the lower left corner at 10:52 (6-9). Jarett Park passed off to Mike Leveille behind the cage the set the pick for Leveille to roll the crease to tease the slide, which freed up Rommel in front. Rommel found the back of the net on a lefty hip shot (7-9) at 10:12.

UMass and SU traded one goal a piece one from Zywicki (10-7) and then Bucktooth (8-10) on a lefty-left hip goal at 6:04. Recchione capitalized on the late slide on a drive straight for a UMass goal at 5:35 (11-8).

Crockett scored twice to narrow the margin to one (10-11) but the Minutemen responded with two of their own (13-10). SU’s Niewieroski as he jumped over defender Jack Reid’s head and hit lower left corner at 1:02 (11-13).

Syracuse out-scored UMass 4-3 in the fourth. Their inability to convert on two EMO goals and the UMass last minute goalie change stifled their ability to pull out the win. Zywicki scored his fifth goal of the game with just over a minute into the period (14-11) off a behind the back assist from Sean Morris. Syracuse replied with two goals from Mike Leveille who hit upper 90 on his first goal and then caught the late slide for his second goal bringing SU within one (13-14). Zywicki scored yet another and his last goal, his sixth goal, of the game. SU’s Rommel was called for slashing. Zywicki caught Pfeiffer on the side step for the dime hole goal at 6:01 (15-13).

The Orangemen Rommel cut down the lead by one goal with a goal of his own (14-15). It was Brett Bucktooth who delivered with the low-to-high riser equalizer at 3:06 (15-15). Senior Sean Morris had other plans for how his possibly last game would turn out. Morris took the goalie on a bouncer (16-15). UMass called two more timeouts while SU sent two on the ball with each time in. The speed and positioning of UMass’ Brian Jacovina helped set up the success of the stall. The Minutemen ran out the clock and advance to the next round with a 16-15 solid win over defending champions Syracuse.