A game-winning goal with 15 seconds left has pushed Syracuse (3-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) back up in the rankings to No. 6 in Inside Lacrosse’s Top 20 poll. SU previously ranked No. 10.

For the third straight week, the Orange relied on a second-half surge to keep the game close. Each game, a goal in the final 15 seconds decided SU’s fate. This time, the final blow to ACC rival and then-No. 9 Virginia came from Sergio Salcido.

The redshirt senior finished with a pair of goals and three assists even though he has been “banged up,” SU head coach John Desko said.

“It’s hard to go out after not having some good runs during the week and play game day,” Desko said. “That’s a lot to ask of him.”

Junior midfielder Matt Lane and sophomore attack Nate Solomon bounced back after rough performances over the last few games. Lane had only two points to his name prior to Sunday but scored a hat trick and notch two assists against the Cavaliers.

Solomon was quiet after his four-goal performance in the season opener against Siena, stringing together only an assist in the past two games. But, against Virginia, he had three goals and a pair of assists. After saving just four shots in the first half, goalie Evan Molloy saved eight in the second half, en route to the 14-13 win.

All five ACC teams are ranked in the poll that was released Monday: No. 1 Notre Dame, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 6 Syracuse, No. 11 Virginia and No. 18 Duke.

Syracuse will hit the road for the first time all year, taking on unranked St. John’s on Saturday at 1 p.m.  St. John’s is coming off its first win of the season, a 13-12 nail-biter at Siena, a team SU smoked in the season opener.

The Red Storm has been outscored 65-37 and ranks outside of the top 50 in scoring offense and defense. The team is led by twins Mike and Joe Madsen, who both have five goals on the year.

Published on March 6, 2017 at 12:10 pm

Contact Charlie: csdistur@syr.edu | @charliedisturco