Syracuse men's lacrosse suffers first loss at No. 13 Harvard

The top-ranked Orange fell 13-12 after the Crimson scored the game-winning goal with 50 seconds remaining.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 9:04pm

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Syracuse men's lacrosse suffered its first loss of the 2026 season, falling 13-12 to No. 13 Harvard at Jordan Field. The Orange erased a late deficit to tie the game at 12 in the fourth quarter, but Harvard answered in the closing minute to secure the win.

Why it matters

Syracuse was the top-ranked team in the country coming into the game, so this loss will likely impact their national ranking and playoff positioning. Harvard's win over the Orange also demonstrates their ability to compete with the best teams in the country.

The details

Luke Rhoa led Syracuse with a career-high three goals, while Joey Spallina recorded two goals and one assist. Finn Thomson added two goals and Michael Leo paced the offense with four assists and one goal. Syracuse built an early 4-1 lead before Harvard responded with a 5-0 run to take a 6-4 halftime advantage. The Orange tied the game in the third quarter, but Harvard answered with four straight scores to regain control. Syracuse rallied again in the fourth quarter to briefly take a 12-10 lead, but Harvard scored the final three goals, including the game-winner with 50 seconds left.

  • Syracuse suffered its first loss of the 2026 season on Saturday, February 21.
  • The game was played at Jordan Field in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The players

Luke Rhoa

A Syracuse player who led the team with a career-high three goals in the game.

Joey Spallina

A Syracuse player who recorded two goals and one assist in the game.

Nathan Cobery

A Harvard player who led the Crimson with three goals in the game.

John Aurandt IV

A Harvard player who also recorded three goals in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Syracuse returns to action on Friday, February 27, traveling to Princeton for a 4 p.m. faceoff.

The takeaway

This loss will likely impact Syracuse's national ranking and playoff positioning, but it also demonstrates Harvard's ability to compete with the best teams in the country. The game was a close, hard-fought battle that came down to the final minute.