Syracuse lacrosse snapped a three-game losing streak Friday night, upsetting top-seeded Notre Dame 14-12 in the ACC Tournament semifinal at South Bend.
The Orange never trailed after Owen Hiltz scored just 1:11 into the match.
Hiltz finished with five goals to lead Syracuse’s offense against the two-time defending national champions.
Goalie Jimmy McCool recorded 20 saves on 32 shots on goal in a standout performance for the Orange.
Joey Spallina, the former No. 1 national recruit who wears Syracuse’s historic No. 22 jersey, contributed a team-high three assists.
The victory keeps Syracuse’s hopes alive for its first ACC championship since 2016.
The win comes at a critical time for the program, which has struggled to recapture its former dominance in recent years. Syracuse has won 10 national championships in its history but hasn’t reached the Final Four since finishing as national runner-up in 2013.
The Orange last won national titles in 2008 and 2009.
Head coach Gary Gait, widely considered one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time, now has his team positioned for a potential late-season run.
The victory over Notre Dame demonstrates Syracuse can compete with the nation’s elite programs.
With the win, Syracuse advances in the ACC Tournament and improves its chances of making a deep NCAA Tournament run. The Orange haven’t played in the national championship game on Memorial Day since 2013.
The game included a lengthy weather delay before Syracuse secured the upset over the Fighting Irish.
