No. 1 Syracuse lacrosse falls to No. 14 Harvard in close battle

The Orange drop their second one-goal game against the Crimson in the last three meetings.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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In a back-and-forth contest, the Syracuse lacrosse team fell 13-12 to Harvard on the road. After jumping out to an early 4-1 lead, the Orange struggled in the second quarter, allowing the Crimson to score five unanswered goals before halftime. The two teams continued to trade scoring runs, but a late goal by Harvard's Nathan Cobery proved to be the difference.

Why it matters

This loss drops Syracuse to 2-1 on the season and marks their second one-goal defeat against Harvard in the last three meetings between the two programs. The game highlighted the Orange's struggles to maintain momentum and control the tempo against a tough Crimson defense that limited star player Joey Spallina's impact.

The details

Syracuse started strong, scoring four unanswered goals in the first quarter to take a 4-1 lead. However, the Orange offense stalled in the second quarter, managing just four shots on goal as Harvard scored five straight to take a 6-4 halftime advantage. The teams traded scoring runs throughout the second half, but Cobery's late goal proved to be the game-winner for the Crimson.

  • Syracuse jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter.
  • Harvard scored five unanswered goals in the second quarter to take a 6-4 halftime lead.
  • The teams traded scoring runs throughout the second half.
  • Nathan Cobery scored the game-winning goal for Harvard with 50 seconds left on the clock.

The players

Gary Gait

The head coach of the Syracuse lacrosse team.

Joey Spallina

The Tewaaraton Award favorite and star player for Syracuse, who was limited to just 3 points in the game.

Michael Leo

The senior midfielder for Syracuse who tied a career-high with 5 points in the losing effort.

Graham Stevens

The goaltender for Harvard who made several key saves to preserve the Crimson's one-goal victory.

Nathan Cobery

The Harvard player who scored the game-winning goal with 50 seconds remaining.

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What they’re saying

“We battled them twice last year, both in one-goal games, and this year it was just more of the same. It just came down to making a play at the very end, and they made it and we didn't.”

— Gary Gait, Syracuse head coach (si.com)

“We had a flow going (in the first quarter), (but) they played some great defense.”

— Gary Gait, Syracuse head coach (si.com)

“We were looking to run and move and find the openings when they came. (Spallina) thought he had the shot there and he took it, and unfortunately the goalie made a good save.”

— Gary Gait, Syracuse head coach (si.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the challenges Syracuse faces in maintaining its dominance as the top-ranked team in the country, particularly against tough defensive opponents like Harvard who can limit the impact of star players like Joey Spallina. The Orange will need to regroup and find ways to sustain their offensive momentum if they hope to bounce back and regain their status as the team to beat in college lacrosse.