McCool's Last-Minute Save Sends Syracuse to NCAA Quarterfinals

It’s never that bad.

Syracuse goalie Jimmy McCool plays the most demanding position in lacrosse. The senior shook off his first-half struggles Sunday, however, to make 16 saves and close the door on Yale with a last-minute denial of Cole Cashion to preserve a 16-15 NCAA tournament victory in front of 4,341 fans at JMA Wireless Dome.

“It’s never that bad,” McCool said afterward on ESPNU. “It’s a tough position to play but my teammates are the best teammates in the world. It’s been a tough week, and I just had to fight. My team helped me out. They had my back. We all got the job done in the end.”

McCool was mourning the death of his grandmother this week. He’ll have at least one more week to seek comfort in his Syracuse lacrosse family.

The sixth-seeded Orange will face third-seeded North Carolina next Saturday in the NCAA quarterfinals at Hofstra. The conference foes have met twice already this season. The Tar Heels prevailed both times, including a 12-10 win in the ACC championship game May 1.

Bolstered by faceoff specialist John Mullen, Syracuse was in control for most of the game Sunday. Mullen won 21 of 33 faceoffs, including a 13-for-16 performance in the first half.

But Yale had plenty of fight. The Bulldogs used a four-goal flurry at the end of the second quarter to take an 8-6 lead into halftime, including a pole goal by Patrick Pisano after Yale won the ball back off a faceoff loss.

McCool and the Orange shooters found their groove in the second half. Syracuse scored on all seven shots it took in the third quarter and started 2-for-2 in the fourth to take a 15-12 lead. When Joey Spallina deposited a Payton Anderson feed with to make it 16-12 with six minutes remaining, the game appeared in hand.

Yale wasn’t done fighting, however. Sean Grogan scored off a pass from Conor Gately, assisted Dylan Blekicki and then pulled the Bulldogs within one when Peter Moynihan found him for another goal with 1:17 remaining.

Mullen committed a violation on the ensuing faceoff, giving Yale a chance to tie the game in the final minute. A shot by Luke Pascal was blocked by Orange defenseman Riley Figueiras, the ball ricocheting right into Cashion’s stick on the doorstep. Cashion wrapped a righthanded shot around his left shoulder that would have gone in were it not for the instep of McCool’s left foot.

A kick save and a beauty.

Defenseman Jordan Beck scooped the ground ball off the rebound and Syracuse cleared the ball successfully, holding on for the one-goal win.

The Orange got big games from their usual suspects. All-Americans Finn Thompson (3g, 2a), Michael Leo (3g, 1a), Luke Rhoa (2g, 2a) and Joey Spallina (2g, 2a) combined for 17 points in the win.