John Galloway forced his way through a crease full of Siena players all contesting the same loose ball he was. It was a dangerous maneuver, but somehow, Galloway knew he could make the play. Today was different.

How? It’s simple.

‘It’s playoffs,’ Galloway said. ‘It’s the best four games of the year, and you want to keep working hard so you can play next week, and that’s what you work for all year. This is what we’ve been working for since fall ball.’

Motivated by the playoff atmosphere, the No. 2 seed Syracuse cruised to an 11-4 victory over Siena Sunday, charged by a newly added incentive: Win, and you play next week. Lose, and the season is done.

‘I was happy with their emotion,’ head coach John Desko said. ‘The team just sounded really good all week. This time of year is always a juggling act. …But I thought they stayed pretty focused.’

The playoff attitude exhibited by the Orange Sunday took a team loaded with questions and provided it with answers.

First, a defense that struggled to play a full 60 minutes of lacrosse all season did just that. Against Siena, the Syracuse defense held its opponent scoreless for the first 42 minutes of the game, giving up only four goals total – two to the Saints’ two top scorers.

Defender Sid Smith said the new atmosphere brought more camaraderie between SU’s defenders. In certain situations, in which bad communication led to goals earlier this season, the unit tightened, putting the clamp down on the Saints’ Bryan Neufeld and Jordan Loftus.

‘We just played really good defense,’ Smith said. ‘Our talk was really good, and we just played really good defense. When we needed to slide, we did and tried to put them in uncomfortable situations.’

Smith, alongside the defensive core, tightened even when circumstances got tough. During a game plagued with penalties, Syracuse was forced into six separate man-down situations without getting one back in return. The Orange killed five of those six opportunities for the Saints.

Next, a sophomore goalkeeper with a streaky reputation showcased his ability. Throughout the season, Galloway has been plagued with flashes of brilliance, followed by breaks of inconsistency.

Facing a high-scoring Siena offense, though, Galloway took the initiative early. In big-game situations, in which the goalie has normally needed a quarter to become accustomed, Galloway converted his first three save opportunities.

Both high and low shots from Neufeld and Loftus were batted away by an energized Galloway, who allowed over eight goals per game during last year’s playoff run.

Galloway even came up big in one-on-one situations he typically struggles with.

With five minutes remaining in a wide-open first quarter, Orange defender Matt Tierney was beat to the cage by Siena’s Shaun Dunn. Without hesitation, Galloway stepped away from the goal and clipped the ball from Dunn’s stick, kicking it upfield for an Orange transition. It was those plays he only made sometimes during the season, but felt he had to tonight.

‘John played great,’ Smith said. ‘He’s never satisfied with the way he plays, but I thought he played great today.’

Now, looking ahead to a Maryland team that already pulled off a monster upset over a previously undefeated Notre Dame squad, Syracuse understands it will have to keep the playoff fire burning. The Terrapins are.

Like some of the opponents the Orange has lost to this season, Maryland has a fast midfield, a big attack and multiple options at goalkeeper, and could provide Syracuse with a difficult test en route to the final four.

And Galloway realizes keeping himself and his team motivated through the playoffs is the only way to stay alive.

‘It’s going to be a lot we have to prepare for,’ Galloway said. ‘It’s going to be a tough game down at Hofstra, so we’re going to have to get ready these next couple days.’

ctorr@syr.edu

Published on May 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm