+34Syracuse is back in the Final Four, its first time going back-to-back since 2008-09.
Syracuse defeated North Carolina, 13-11, in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Saturday. For the first time since 2008-09, Syracuse is headed to the Final Four for the second straight season.
They did that riding their vaunted senior class, as four seniors combined for 13 points. He accounted for three goals and three assists, and two of those goals came at the most critical points of the afternoon. With the score tied at 10 with 7:57 to go, Spallina put the Orange ahead for good off an assist from Dante Bowen.
After Thomson put the Orange up 12-10 roughly four minutes later, it was Spallina third goal of the afternoon that put the game fully out of reach, as he fired past UNC goalie Kent Goode with 2:40 to go to give the Orange a 13-10 lead. It was Spallina’s 35th goal of the season and an exclamation point on another impressive afternoon for the Tewaaraton Finalist.
The old adage of ‘it’s hard to be a good team three times in a season’ held true on Saturday.against the Tar Heels earlier in the season, and one particularly glaring issue for the Orange was at the Faceoff X. North Carolina had dominated that category, winning 31 of 53 there, as Brady Wambach had his way against John Mullen. —a 14-9 win for the Tar Heels—that head coach Gary Gait decided to bench Mullen as he had gone just 7 for 21 against Wambach.
Such was not the case on Saturday, as Mullen took 13 of 24 at the X in a rare disappointing performance for Wambach. It has been an outstanding start to the NCAA Tournament for Mullen, who also won 21 of 33 face-offs against Yale.
With 1:03 seconds go to in the first quarter, Mullen won at the X and streaked straight down the field, firing past Goode to tie the matchup at 1-1 in what had been a defensively dominated opening period. Things looked precarious for the Orange with 5:01 left in the first half when Brevin Wilson scored to put the Tar Heels up 6-2.
But it was actually a turning point for the Orange, as they scored six unanswered goals from there to seize momentum. It wasn’t easy, though, as the Orange entered halftime giving up two extra-men opportunities to North Carolina as Billy Dwan and Thomson were both penalized for pushing and slashing. SUPPORT THE JUICE ONLINE
Scratch the next story
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
10 Takeaways From Detroit Lions 2026 Schedule RevealDetroit Lions takeaways from 2026 NFL schedule reveal.
Read more »
North Carolina couple accused of causing vulture invasion sued by furious town: 'Not good neighbors'Today's Video Headlines: 05/14/26
Read more »
Eric Church delivers ‘greatest commencement speech ever’ in viral address to University of North Carolina graduatesCountry music star Eric Church is being praised for delivering the “greatest” commencement speech with his now-viral address to University of North Carolina graduates.
Read more »
Spurned spouses cash in as North Carolina’s 'homewrecker' law turns cheating into a courtroom jackpotNorth Carolina's homewrecker laws take center stage as former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema faces an alienation of affection lawsuit over alleged affair.
Read more »