UMass ousts Syracuse

AMHERST -- A week ago, the University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team assembled in Boyden Gym to watch the NCAA's selection show. When the eighth-seeded Minutemen drew Syracuse, the defending national champion, as their first-round opponent, the commentators for College Sports TV projected a compelling second-round matchup between the Orange and top-seeded Johns Hopkins.

Big mistake.

Back at Boyden Gym, the Minutemen seethed at the slight.

''We took it real personal," said junior attack Sean Morris of Marshfield. ''If you saw our 37 faces when [the analysts] said that, you would've known the outcome right then . . . It was just kind of an edge we were able to get from everyone counting us out."

Looking to prove their doubters wrong, the Minutemen overcame Syracuse's second-half flurry of 11 goals and pulled off a 16-15 victory before 4,038 at Garber Field yesterday.

Morris capped the victory by recording his ninth hat trick of the season when he answered Brett Bucktooth's tying goal with 3:06 left by beating Syracuse goaltender Jay Pfeifer with 1:12 to go.

UMass (13-2) advances to a second-round matchup against Johns Hopkins Saturday at Homewood Field in Baltimore. The Orange (7-6) were left to retreat to Syracuse after their streak of 22 consecutive appearances in the NCAA semifinals was snapped.

''It was a heck of a game, a barn-burner of a game," said UMass coach Greg Cannella.

Syracuse's rally prompted Cannella to make a fourth-quarter switch in goaltenders from Efosa Guobodia, who gave up half of his 14 goals in the third period, to injured senior Bill Schell, who allowed the tying goal. ''Our guys fought through a lot of adversity in the game and their faith never wavered in each other," said Cannella. ''It was just great, especially for our seniors, to win their last game on Garber Field."

UMass senior attack Jeff Zywicki, who has scored two overtime winners in his career vs. the Orange, reprised his role as Syracuse's tormentor with six goals and an assist. In three career meetings against Syracuse, Zywicki has 10 goals.

''I don't know what it is," said Zywicki. ''I just get that extra little bit of adrenaline. I just want to win so bad. It's the playoffs. When I lose, I'm done. My college career's over. I take a couple of finals and I go home. And I wasn't letting that happen.

''I told Morris before the game, `I didn't come back this year to lose in the first round,' and there was no way we were losing in the first round."

After trailing, 7-4, at halftime, Brian Crockett led a furious Syracuse rally, scoring three of his team's seven goals in the third period. After Crockett pulled the Orange within 11-10, Schell, who sat out the regular-season finale against Rutgers with a broken right hand, began warming up.

Goals by Gene Tundo and Brett Garber not only gave the Minutemen a 13-10 lead, but also gave their sophomore goalie, who was making his second career start, a bit of reprieve.

''It was one of the toughest decisions I've made in 11 years," said Canella, choking back his emotions as he explained why he went with his sophomore backup over his senior starter in goal.

When Guobodia continued to struggle in the fourth and surrendered a goal to Greg Rommel that pulled Syracuse within 15-14, Cannella's instincts told him it was time to bring in Schell. ''We knew Billy would be ready," Cannella said. ''I'm proud of both those guys for being unselfish and putting their team first."