The first quarter ended with Cornell leading 3-2 after #9 David Key scored with just 11 seconds left in the quarter. The second quarter started off all Cornell, followed by a huge Syracuse run, and ended on a settled down Cornell goal. Going into the second quarter up by one Cornell, proceeded to stick 2 quick goals on Syracuse to build their lead up to 5-2, but that was where Syracuse showed just how explosive their offense really is. The Orangemen went on a 5 goal run which was spearheaded by both Springer and Powell, who each had two, along with 1 goal by the other attackman, Liam Banks. These 5 consecutive goals put Syracuse up 7-5 and it appeared as if they might just keep on going and leave Cornell in the dust. Cornell stuck to their guns, settled the ball down and worked their offense to get one last goal in before the half ended going into halftime only down 7-6. As the two teams walked off the field into the lockerooms, with Cornell feeling happy to have survived that dangerous run and Syracuse upset that they only lead by one, the feeling inside the stadium was as if something big was going to happen. Cornell had given Syracuse an answer to almost everything they had thrown at the Big Red. Syracuse's defense usually plays well enough to allow their offense to win their games for them, but Cornell had stood their ground in the first half and were not just gonna let the Orangemen offense roll all over them in the second.
The third quarter started off with Cornell down one 7-6. The teams exchanged goals one-by-one throughout the entire third quarter, ending with Cornell still down by 1 goal at 10-9. The third quarter was just a plot builder in order to keep the crowd interested, with the beginning of the fourth bringing them to the edge of their seats and the last five minutes climaxing into an all-out student takeover of Schoellkopf Field. #10-Mike Springer, who went 4g-1a on the day, scored the first fouth quarter goal to put Syracuse up by 2 at 11-9. Cornell came back with two of their own, both by Steinwald, to tie the game up at 11, followed up by another Springer goal which would give Syracuse their last lead of the game at 12-11. While this game between Cornell and Syracuse was full of action on both sides of the field, this last Syracuse goal was probably the offensive play of the day. As a Syracuse player was streaking down the far sideline in an obvious 4-3 fastbreak situation, Springer set up to take the point of the break. The point-pass came across towards Springer a little high forcing him to leave his feet in order to get to it, as Springer was in the air he caught the ball and fired it past Cornell goalie Justin Cynar all in one motion and then wound up getting knocked to the ground. Hard to describe, but incredible to watch. As the crowd started to get a little louder and the tension a little thicker, Michael Egan made his first appearance of the day, tying the game up again for Cornell at 12 half way through the fourth and final quarter. The score remained tied for the next three minutes as both teams went at each other trying to put one another away for the last time. Cornell came out of a timeout with just 4:07 left in the game and ran a play which resulted in a decent shot, but more importantly, they maintained possession. Working the offense Cornell got another shot off on Syracuse's defense, with Mulligan coming up big on a tough save. It wasn't a clean save though -- it rolled out to the right side of the field, where Mr. Egan picked up the loose rebound and fired it high past an unset Mulligan to give Cornell their 13-12 lead. The game went back and fourth on each end with Cornell killing as much time as they could on offense and making big saves and stops on defense. The final whistle blew and the Big Red would celebrate their biggest win in 2000 on Schoellkopf's wet turf, as their student body rushed the field to help add to the celebration.
After watching Cornell play a fantastic first half against Maryland earlier in the year and then blow the game by not playing a solid second half, a lot can be said about how Cornell played today. Syracuse played an all-around good game, but they are #1 and are expected to. Cornell is coming into their own and proved today that over the past few weeks since that Maryland game they have grown and are able to play a complete ballgame against top-notch competition. This loss for Syracuse does ruin their chances to pitch a perfect one in 2000, but might be a little spark to help get them refocused and aware of how hard teams are going to come out at them. Syracuse is still one of, if not the best team in the nation, but now we know a little better who is right behind them. Hop on the the Big Red Train now because they have got a whole lot of rolling to go in 2000.
Today's win over Syracuse gave Cornell their first victory over a #1 ranked team since 1976.
A little dirty action in the middle of the second quarter help to provoke our Quote of the Day. While Cornell had possession of the ball on their offensive end a flag was thrown against Syracuse for a substitution infraction which would have led to a Cornell man-up situation, but after the whistle blew the play dead a Cornell player pushed another Syracuse player drawing a dead ball flag against Cornell. Instead of Cornell being a man-up they were even, this sparked a Cornell student to yell out towards the guilty Cornell player, "You're from Cornell, you should be smarter than that!"
Cornell vs. Syracuse
| Current Record | |
|---|
| Syracuse | 7-1 |
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