Syracuse Lacrosse: Madonna wins ACC Defensive Player of the Week

Syracuse Orange goaltender Dom Madonna grabbed eight saves in an 11-10 3OT win over the Army Black Knights on Saturday, earning him the ACC Defensive Player of the Week. Behind a defense that lacked star long pole Tyson Bomberry, the Liverpool, NY native gave up six goals in the first half, three of which were scored with SU on the man down. With renewed conviction coming out of the second half the Syracuse defense allowed just four more goals on its way to erase a five goal deficit.

In the overtime periods the SU net minder had three saves to keep the Orange alive including a spectacular save in the first sudden death period. Yet it wasn’t his play in net that likely won him this week’s honor. With under three minutes to go in the third sudden death, Madonna brought the ball up field and fired a beautiful outlet pass to Ryan Simmons as the midfielder streaked towards the Army goal. Simmons wrangled in the pass, trailed by two defenders and put away the game winning tally.

There were a lot of questions concerning Madonna’s ability to play division I ball coming into the year. Yet the Merrimack College transfer has done everything he needed to put those questions to bed.