Syracuse Lacrosse: Previewing the Cornell Big Red for a Tuesday night faceoff

Opponent

School: Cornell

Mascot: Big Red

Coach: Matt Kerwick

Location: Ithaca, NY

Conference: IVY

Game Location: Carrier Dome

Game Time: 7 PM

Television/Radio: Spectrum Sports/ACC Digital Network Extra, TK99/105

Weather: Dome Weather!

All-Time Syracuse Record Vs. Opponent: 63-37-1

Previous Matchup: 10-9 (OT) Cornell Win

Opponent Ranking: N/A

Cornell Quick Facts

Record: 3-6

Conference Record: 2-2

2016 Conference Postseason Results: N/A

2016 NCAA Tournament Postseason Results: N/A

2017 Team Statistics

Total Goals– Shot Attempts: 100-338

Total Opponent Goals– Shot Attempts: 119-372

EMO Goals (Percentage): 7 (.269)

EMO Goals Against (Percentage): 11 (.324)

Team Shooting Percentage: .296

Opponent Shooting Percentage: .320

Shots on Goal Percentage: .568

Opponent Shots on Goal Percentage: .597

Groundballs: 295

Opponent Groundballs: 314

Turnovers: 137

Caused Turnovers: 75

Faceoffs: 106-252 (.421)

Clearing Percentage: .904

Opponent Clearing Percentage: .803

Penalties: 36 (29 PIM)

The Syracuse Orange come into tonight’s game against the Cornell Big Red ranked first in the nation. In 2016, the Big Red stunned the then 11^th ranked Syracuse Orange in a 10-9 overtime win. It was Evan Molloy’s second career start in which he made just six saves. In that game, SU dominated much of the statistics but could not get its shots on cage, putting just 22 of 40 on net. Cornell went on to a 6-7 record, its first losing season in 18 years.

The 2017 campaign has not turned out much better for men from Ithaca, NY, as it is 3-6 thus far and has not beaten a team above .500 this year. SU and Cornell have played three of the same opponents. Cornell lost to Hobart 8-16, lost to Albany 6-17, and lost to Virginia 18-19.

The one strength of this team is in the groundball battle, where the Big Red are ninth in the country snagging 32.78 groundballs per game.

While this is not the same Cornell team from years past, don’t sleep on its offense, which is 25^th in scoring in the nation and did put up 18 against Virginia.

ATTACK

Here is all you need to know about the attack: freshman attackman Jeff Teat leads Cornell in points with 40, which also makes him the career leader in points amongst all current Cornell players, not just attackman. Yes, a freshman has more career points than any other player on the team. Crazy.

As the number one recruit in the class of 2016, Teat, has made an immediate impact as a freshman on this squad with a team high 19 goals, 21 assists, and 40 points. Playing out of the Hill Academy, he is also on Canada’s U19 team. Against Virginia Teat put up 11 points and went on to post seven against Colgate. The freshman got off to a slow start in the first three games of his career with just a combined three points, including a zero-point effort against the Albany Great Danes. Since those first three games, he has not scored fewer than three points in a match and has put up five plus points in five of the last six games.

Teat is joined by another freshman at attack, Connor Fletcher. Fletcher had a five goal performance in a one goal loss to Penn this season. The freshman is second on the team in goals, assists, and points and is primarily a dodger who shoots on the run but also distributes a lot from behind cage.

Sophomore Colton Rupp had a big freshman year with 23 goals and is halfway there this season totaling 12. He has a cannon of an arm and is best when he has time for a step down shot. The former US Lacrosse All-American had season high five goals against Dartmouth earlier in the year.

MIDFIELD

Clarke Petterson started the majority of Cornell’s games last season and has been on the field for the opening whistle each game this year. He is very much a two-way player and has had 11 goals this year including four versus Virginia. In 2016 Petterson burned Syracuse for three goals in the win over the Orange. Lacrosse fans may be familiar with his cousin Kevin Huntley who was a stand out at Johns Hopkins.

Jake McCulloch has started every game as a sophomore this year. He is primarily an offensive midfielder and has eight goals and three asssits on the year. Junior Jordan Dowiak should also be on the starting midfield line. Dowiak has played in every game but one since arriving on campus and has really stepped his game up this year with 12 goals.

FACEOFF

Cornell is without stud FOGO Domenik Massamilion this year after he decided to finish out his degree at Cornell and use his one remaining year of eligibility while pursuing a graduate degree at another institution. In his place, Paul Rasimowicz has picked up much of the faceoff work going 81-172 with a .471 faceoff winning percentage. The Big Red are 57^th in the country at the X while Rasimowicz is 51^st in the nation in winning percentage.

DEFENSE

Junior Jake Pulver has started each game except the early season matchup with the Hobart Statesmen. Pulver played high school ball at nearby Fayettville-Manlius High School. In 2016 Pulver was second-team All-Ivy League for his shut down ability. Brandon Salvatore has started every game at close defense. The freshman is tied for a team high 15 caused turnovers with senior Walt Gahagan who has started five games this season. While the two may be tied in caused turnovers, Gahagan has had 14 of his 15 come in the last four games giving him 3.5 CT/game in his last four games. Chad Otterman has played in eight games this year, also missing the Hobart game, and started four of the first five. Last year as a freshman he picked up three starts. He should get some playing time against Syracuse but I wouldn’t expect him to start.

GOAL

In 2014 Christian Knight earned Ivy League Rookie of the Year and Honorable Mention All-Ivy League honors and backed that up with a 2015 Honorable Mention All-Ivy League performance in his sophomore year. Last season, Knight did not play due to an injury. In 2017 Knight has been less than stellar, with 13.21 goals against average and .393 save percentage, near the bottom in the country in both statistics. That being said, he has 388 career saves and three more, which he will likely get against SU, will move him into eighth all-time at Cornell.

The Syracuse Orange host the Cornell Big Red on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM in the Carrier Dome. The game can be seen on the ACC Digital Network Extra and heard on TK99/105. Of course, you can also follow me @Orangelax for updates.