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Editor's Note: This week, we've been looking back at Syracuse sports in 2015 by announcing our selections for different superlatives, which were voted on by the TNIAAM staff. Today, we announce our selection for Best Game.
The 2015 calendar featured some quality games for Syracuse Orange sports. Not necessarily for men's basketball or football, mind you. But the program's non-revenue sports (and lacrosse) managed to put together a nice collection of games that showcased them at the highest level of success.
Your nominees, based on TNIAAM voting:
- Field hockey's 4-2 win over North Carolina to win the national title
- Men's soccer defeating Boston College, 1-0, to make the College Cup
- Men's basketball outlasting UConn in the Bahamas, 79-76
- Men's lacrosse pulling off an impressive 15-14 win over Duke to win the ACC title
- Women's lacrosse beating North Carolina in two overtimes to take home its own ACC championship
... Yeah, men's basketball's there too after we said it wasn't. Sue us.
The votes were close, to be honest. But the field hockey team's big victory over UNC to cap a historic season takes the cake. Sure, voting for it certainly factors in the rest of the season, even if we try to avoid that. But with the stakes as high as they were, and destiny awaiting them, the Syracuse women impressed from end to end, securing a championship. If that's not "best" material, not sure what is.
And just in case you wanted to rewatch the conclusion of said victory, here you go:
Congrats again to the field hockey team! We happily gave you props on "best moment" and do so again to commemorate your best game of the year. Congrats to every other nominee too. Despite the perceptions around a difficult year for the Orange, there was still plenty to be proud of, including your individual game performances.