Division I Men :      March 17, 2000 [ The Game Story]
Syracuse 13 Johns Hopkins 12 Scoring: Scoring: Liam Banks Josh Coffman Ryan Powell Matt Caione Mike Springer Joe Ceglia Stuart Smith (3, 2) (0, 4) (3, 1) (2, 2) (3, 1) (1, 0) (1, 0) Conor Denihan Dan Denihan Aj Haugen Justin Shaberly Chris Harned Bobby Benson (5, 1) (2, 2) (3, 0) (1, 0) (0, 1) (1, 0) Saves: Saves: Rob Mulligan 17  (0.586) Brian Carcaterra 9  (0.409) Current Record :     (3-0) Current Record :     (1-2) Team Page For 2000 Team Page For 2000       The Game Story:

The game started off as expected with both teams feeling each other out and exchanging goals throughout the first quarter. #3-Liam Banks(3g-2a)opened the game up with the first Syracuse score, followed by an #12-AJ Haugen(3g-0a) man-up goal and two #24-Conor Denihan(5g-1a) goals putting Hopkins up 3-1, which would be their largest lead of the game. #10-Mike Springer(3g-1a)of Syracuse finished the first quarter scoring and cut the Blue Jay lead to 3-2.

#22-Ryan Powell(3g-1a) tied the game up early in the second quarter and the 'Cuse would not look back for the rest of the night. The tone of the game was set in the second quarter with the Orangmen scoring 6 goals in the quarter and holding Hopkins to only 2. #32-Josh Coffman was able to set up great offensive situations for Syracuse, taking his short-stick middie behind and from the wing, then dishing it out to Syracuse's dangerous finishers. Hopkins didn't seem to have an answer for Coffman, who finished the first half with 4 assists and his Syracuse team leading 8-5.

Syracuse came right out of halftime eager to keep the momentum on their side. Banks started the second half just like the first, scoring the first goal, and was followed by a Powell rip that put the home team up 10-5. Syracuse would hold a three or four goal lead for almost the entire second half, with Hopkins riding Conor Denihan's back, who was able to keep the game somewhat close with 3 unassisted goals in the third quarter. The third ended with Syracuse up 11-8 and what appeared to be a solid grip of the game.

Powell scored in the first minute of the fourth followed by long-stick midfielder #24 Joe Ceglia's goal at the 12:59 mark early in the fourth. Ceglia's goal put 'Cuse up 13-8 and seemed almost like a meaningless goal at the time, but would wind up being huge later on down the road. Ceglia's goal was the Ornagmen's 13th goal of the game and was the last one that they would score. Conor Denihan scored his fifth goal of the night mid-way through the fourth, followed up by his big brother, #42 Dan Denihan(2g-2a), beating his man on the right wing and finishing with a low and away goal on the run. These two goals by the Denihan's brought the game to 13-10 with a little over five minutes left in the game. After a few calls going against the home team and with an obviously loud and upset crowd rooting against them, the visiting Blue Jays made the game extremely interesting. Haugen scored with 45 seconds left to make it 13-11 and silenced the 7,000+ fans in the Dome. #13-Bobby Benson scored his one and only goal of the game with only 19 ticks left on the clock, bringing the Hop to within one at 13-12. Hopkins gained possession on some sort of Syracuse faceoff violation and proceeded to take a hail-mary shot deep into their offensive end. Syracuse goalie #13-Rob Mulligan (who played a huge game with 17 saves on the night) came out for the loose ball and missed. The Hopkins attack picked the loose ball up and put it by the Syracuse defenseman playing goalie at the time. One ref at first signaled the goal good, but after further discussion the refs ruled that the goal was scored after time was expired. Syracuse wins 13-12 over Hopkins in the Dome.