ESPN's Anish Shroff: A Dream of Spring | Syracusefan.com

ESPN's Anish Shroff: A Dream of Spring

“HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.” — The quarterfinals move to Hempstead on May 17 with No. 2 Syracuse facing No. 7 North Carolina in the day’s early game.

“These are the two best midfields in the country,” says Quint. “Syracuse has been scratching a seven-year itch to get back to Championship Weekend. But no one has been able to slow down Carolina’s offense all season.”

“UNC is the only team to beat Syracuse this season,” adds Carc, “and they did it twice. Chris Gray was unstoppable in both games.”

Gray continues to make his Tewaaraton push with one goal and two assists early. Caton Johnson makes nine first half saves, and the Heels lead 5-3 midway through the second quarter. Then both offenses explode. Brendan Curry and Tucker Dordevic connect on lasers for Syracuse. Tanner Cook scores off a rebound, and William Perry blasts a rocket from the outside. The two teams play frenetic end-to-end lacrosse and combine for 10 goals in the final six minutes of the opening half. UNC trots into the locker room with a 10-8 lead.

Gray’s fourth goal and eighth point of the game give North Carolina a two-goal lead with 90 seconds left in regulation. Jakob Phaup wins the ensuing faceoff for Syracuse and finds Chase Scanlan on the wing. Scanlan, donning the storied No. 22 jersey, splits two defenders, absorbs a push from behind and still manages to score while crashing to the ground.

The Tar Heels still maintain a 16-15 edge with one minute left in regulation. UNC win the very next faceoff, and the Cuse jump into the 10-man ride. A perfectly timed Brett Kennedy stick check jars the ball loose in the restraining area. Peter Dearth vacuums and turbo boosts into transition. Before the defense can slide to Dearth, the All-American defensive midfielder fires a low torpedo to tie the score and force overtime.

In overtime, UNC gains possession first. Justin Anderson’s shot grazes the pipe, but the Heels’ Nicky Solomon retrieves the loose ball. Moments later, Gray finds Cook on the doorstep, but Orange goalie Drake Porter denies his fellow Canadian with a spectacular point-blank save. After a Syracuse timeout, the ball eventually finds Stephen Rehfuss behind the net. Rehfuss, among the national leaders in assists, hits Jamie Trimboli, who buries the game-winner and sends the Orange to Championship Weekend for the first time since 2013.
 

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