In a breathtaking semifinal showdown at the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Championship, the Syracuse Orange delivered one of the most memorable upsets of the season, defeating No. 2 ranked Duke Blue Devils 14-13 in overtime. The match, held at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, was packed with drama, high-intensity play, and a nail-biting finish that has fans and analysts buzzing across the lacrosse world.
Syracuse, who entered the game as the underdog, showed incredible resilience and tactical discipline throughout the match. Junior midfielder Finn Thomson became the hero of the night, scoring the game-winning goal just 43 seconds into overtime after receiving a pinpoint pass from attackman Joey Spallina. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Orange players, who stormed the field to celebrate the hard-fought victory.
Despite trailing early in the game, Syracuse managed to claw their way back, led by Spallina’s four goals and stellar play from goalie Will Mark, who made 15 saves to keep Duke’s high-powered offense in check. The Blue Devils, featuring one of the nation’s top scorers in Brennan O’Neill, had multiple opportunities to seal the win late in regulation but were denied by Mark’s heroics and solid defensive efforts from the Orange.
This victory marks a huge turnaround for Syracuse, a team that struggled in the earlier part of the season but has found momentum at the perfect time. With this win, they advance to the ACC Championship final, putting them in a strong position for an NCAA tournament bid and signaling a potential return to national prominence for the storied lacrosse program.
Coach Gary Gait praised his players’ grit and unity in the post-game interview, saying, “We’ve been working on building a team that never gives up, and tonight you saw that come to life. I’m so proud of these guys.”
The Orange will now face Virginia in the ACC Championship game, looking to continue their Cinderella run.