ITHACA — Dan Hardy has been quietly consistent for the Syracuse University men's lacrosse team all year long, but still, something was missing.
In a season filled with shooting struggles, Hardy has been waiting for an opportunity to contribute some truly meaningful goals. With the Orange's season in the balance against No. 6 Notre Dame on Sunday, he added his name to a growing list of clutch performers.
Hardy netted a game-high three goals, including the game-winner, as third-seeded SU fended off the Irish, 11-9, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I tournament in front of more than 6,000 fans at Schoellkopf Field. The junior midfielder's game-clinching tally came with over five minutes left in regulation, and it sealed Syracuse's seventh final four berth this decade.
The Orange (14-2) will face No. 2 Virginia (14-3) in the national semifinals Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The game will be played at noon.
"Just at the end of the game, I saw that we had an unsettled situation, and we like to take advantage of it when they have fewer guys up (the field)," said Hardy of the scenario before scoring the game-winner. "I just saw it, and we tried to shoot low corners on this guy. He's good stick side, so I tried to go low on him, and it went in."
Syracuse adapted to Notre Dame's slower and deliberate pace in the first quarter, and the Orange got its offense going. With the game already knotted at 1-1, Hardy and freshman Stephen Keogh each scored on man-up situations to give SU a two-goal edge in the first quarter.
The Orange likely could've constructed a bigger lead if it wasn't for the play of Irish senior goalie Joey Kemp. The two-time All-American made eight critical saves in the opening frame and finished with 19. Kemp said he enjoyed getting "peppered" by shots in big games, but he credited the defense for giving him chances to make stops.
"They're a very talented offense, both attack and mids, they've got two hard lines that can both bring it," Kemp said. "They're awesome. Our defense stepped up and I was able to see shots from 12 yards, instead of 8-10 yards."
A major factor behind Kemp seeing a slew of shots was the success of Syracuse face-off specialist Danny Brennan. He entered the game with a pulled muscle in his right leg, but still managed to win the first six faceoffs for the Orange. He countered Notre Dame's top faceoff unit by taking 17 of 24 draws.
"You see the number of shots we were getting, then scoring and getting the ball back," SU head coach John Desko said. "It puts a lot of pressure on the other team's defense, and it certainly helps our cause. It was great to have him back."
Hardy and Steven Brooks each buried goals to extend the SU advantage to 5-1 late in the second quarter. After Michael Podgajny scored for the Irish (14-3), Watertown's Kenny Nims answered with his first goal in typical Orange fashion — scoring right off the faceoff and on a fast break. The junior attacker finished with a goal and an assist as Syracuse went ahead 6-2 at halftime.
But then Notre Dame's explosive third quarter nearly sent the Orange into panic mode. Peter Christman's second goal capped a five-goal run over nine minutes as the Irish took its first lead.
"We started canning some of those shots, and once you get two or three it becomes real easy to start rolling," said Alex Wharton, who led the Irish with two goals and two assists. "I think we got into a groove and just kept going but didn't have enough."
Notre Dame took an 8-7 lead into the fourth quarter and maintained a one-goal lead with over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Eventually, Syracuse overcame its relapses on offense and defense as Pat Perritt dodged his way through the defense to tie it up one last time at 9-9.
Hardy fired in his final goal and sealed the victory just over a minute later. Brooks, known for his late-game heroics earlier this year, fittingly added an insurance goal with over three minutes left.
After having one of his worst quarters of the season, Orange freshman goalie John Galloway made two key saves in the final minutes to ensure the win. Galloway surrendered six goals in the third period, but he allowed only three in the other three quarters. The West Genesee native finished with 11 saves.
"It was definitely a frustrating game for me," Galloway said. "I didn't think I played one of my better games, and I'm just glad my offense was there for me again, and my defense really stuck down at the end."
No one's offense was needed more than Hardy's. Like the rest of his Orange teammates, he's worked through his flaws to get the team back to the final four. And he believes SU has as good a shot as the rest of the field.
"I think anyone can win it," Hardy said. "We saw last year, Duke was a huge favorite and they lose by a goal to Johns Hopkins, so it's really anyone's championship."
nNOTES:Syracuse lost to Virginia in overtime, 14-13, on March 1 at the Face-Off Classic in Baltimore. ... Leveille extended his point-scoring streak to 55 straight games. ... The Orange has won all three meetings against the Irish. ... Notre Dame had its seven-game winning streak snapped.
DUKE 21, OHIO STATE 10
Carthage native Mario Ventiquattro tied a career-high with four points (two goals, two assists), but it wasn't enough for the Buckeyes to upend No. 1 Duke in quarterfinal matchup in Ithaca.
Duke (18-1) will face No. 5 Johns Hopkins (10-5) in the national semifinals Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Zack Greer produced six goals and five assists for a season-high 11 points for the Blue Devils. Duke raced out to a 9-1 lead after the first quarter, and led 12-3 at halftime.
SALISBURY 11, GETTYSBURG 10 (2OT)
Kylor Berkman netted the game-winning goal with under three minutes left in the second overtime as the top-ranked Sea Gulls came from behind to edge the No. 3 Bullets in the Division III quarterfinals at Salisbury, Md.
Watertown native Jim Berkman will lead Salisbury (21-0) into its 14th appearance in the national semifinals as the head coach. The defending champion Sea Gulls will play SUNY Cortland in a rematch for the national title at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Berkman's son, Kylor, finished with two goals and an assist for Salisbury, which trailed 9-7 after three quarters. Bruce Richardson led the Sea Gulls with two goals and two assists. Trip Dyer scored three first-half goals for Gettysburg (17-3).
Carthage's Kyle Burto came off the bench and took one shot on goal for Salisbury.
SUNY CORTLAND 16, ITHACA 5
Billy Fuchs supplied four goals and added an assist as the Red Dragons advanced to the Division III title game for a third straight year with a semifinal victory over the Bombers in Cortland.
Joey Morgan also scored four times for Cortland (18-1). Mike Robinson and Matt Hipenbecker combined for 11 saves. Former Massena product Neal Hopps contributed one shot on goal.
Matt Nelligan paced Ithaca (17-2) with two goals and an assist.
