The ACCT is back for the first time since 2019. Let the May Madness commence!
Hey, remember these guys?
The Syracuse Orange men’s lacrosse team is back in action tonight for the first time in 13 days after their barn-burner against Virginia their last time out, which feels like forever ago.
The Orange are down in Charlotte for the return of the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2019, where they’re the No. 2 seed taking on the No. 3 seed Duke Blue Devils in the second semifinal of the evening after No. 1 Notre Dame plays No. 4 Virginia.
The game is set for 8 PM on the ACC Network, although it may be a later start depending on the length of the first semifinal.
Locked in down in the Queen City.
#3 Syracuse vs. #6 Duke
Friday | 8 p.m. | @accnetwork#HHH x #LikeNoOther pic.twitter.com/hZPnsVDDAG— Syracuse Men’s Lacrosse (@CuseMLAX) May 2, 2024
- All-time series: 25th meeting; Syracuse leads, 15-9
- Last meeting: Syracuse W, 10-4, on March 20, 2024
- Duke this year: 11-4 overall, 1-3 ACC
This should be quite the interesting rematch since the regular season meeting was such an incredibly unique game, with SU putting on about as close to a perfect defensive performance as you can possibly have in holding Duke to four goals. Something tells me we’re in for a different script this time around.
While the Orange are coming off a bye last weekend, the Blue Devils are coming off a brutal, 15-12 loss to North Carolina in their rivalry game that required them to get into the ACCT based on goal differential. You have to think they’re going to be re-focused and motivated coming into this one.
Scouting Duke
Despite their performance in the first game, Duke ranks No. 4 in the country in scoring offense (15.27 goals per game) and No. 3 in the country in shooting percentage (.343). On the other end, they rank No. 14 in the country in scoring defense (9.87 goals-against per game).
The Blue Devils run an attack-oriented offense centered around their superstar and leading scorer, Brennan O’Neill (44G, 23A, 67P). Billy Dwan did an amazing job holding him to 1-of-11 shooting and two points in the first game, and it’s going to be a fascinating matchup to watch in round two.
Michigan transfer Josh Zawada (27G, 36A, 63P) is right behind O’Neill in points and leads the team in assists, and sharpshooter Dyson Williams (44G, 3A, 47P) rounds out the attack as their pure goal scorer and finisher at .473 shooting.
Their midfield’s got solid depth and is well-balanced. Attacker-turned-midfielder Andrew McAdorey (21G, 7A, 28P) leads the unit in goals and points, and he’s followed closely by Aidan Danenza (19G, 8A, 27P). Freshman Benn Johnston (18G, 6A, 24P) and sophomore Max Sloat (15G, 7A, 22P) are both putting up good numbers in their first season contributing to the Duke offense.
FOGO Jake Naso is one of the best and most experienced face-off men in the country. He’s taken 337 of Duke’s 426 restarts this season, and he’s got great numbers with a .576 win percentage (194-of-337) and 115 ground balls. He went 11-of-17 (.647) in the first matchup.
Kenny Brower (22GB, 18CT), Tyler Carpenter (44GB, 13CT) and Henry Bard (18GB, 13CT) lead the Blue Devils’ defense. Brower’s one of the top defenders in the country, and held Joey Spallina to two assists in the regular season.
Freshman goalie Patrick Jameison (158SV) is having a great rookie season with a .560 save percentage and a 9.50 goals-against average. He had 14 saves and a .583 save percent.