No. 7 Syracuse men's lacrosse edges No. 4 Duke in ACC opener

Orange hold off Blue Devils 16-15 in conference clash at JMA Wireless Dome

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:50pm

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No. 7 Syracuse men's lacrosse opened ACC play with a statement win, holding off No. 4 Duke 16-15 on Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange (9-2, 1-0 ACC) handed the Blue Devils (8-1, 0-1 ACC) their first loss of the season behind a balanced offensive effort and timely defensive stops late.

Why it matters

This early-season ACC matchup between top-10 teams provided an important measuring stick for both programs as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the highly competitive conference. Syracuse's victory over a fellow top-5 opponent reinforces their status as one of the nation's elite teams.

The details

Syracuse produced 16 goals with multiple contributors leading the way. Joey Spallina paced the attack with six points on two goals and four assists, while Finn Thomson, Payton Anderson and Luke Rhoa each recorded hat tricks. The Orange built their advantage through steady offensive execution, but Duke kept pace in a back-and-forth contest. Syracuse's defense held firm in the closing minutes to secure the conference-opening victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • Syracuse returns to action on Saturday, April 4, 2026, traveling to face North Carolina.

The players

Joey Spallina

A key offensive contributor for Syracuse, Spallina paced the attack with six points on two goals and four assists, surpassing the 300-point mark for his career.

Finn Thomson

One of several Syracuse players to record a hat trick, Thomson provided consistent scoring throughout the lineup.

Payton Anderson

Another Syracuse player who recorded a hat trick, Anderson was part of the balanced offensive effort that helped the Orange secure the victory.

Luke Rhoa

The third Syracuse player to record a hat trick, Rhoa contributed to the team's offensive production in the win over Duke.

Jimmy McCool

Syracuse's goalkeeper, McCool made 11 saves, including several in critical moments as Duke pushed to equalize late.

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What they’re saying

“This early-season ACC matchup between top-10 teams provided an important measuring stick for both programs as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the highly competitive conference.”

— Kyle Evans, Author

What’s next

Syracuse returns to action Saturday, April 4, traveling to face North Carolina at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The takeaway

Syracuse's victory over a fellow top-5 opponent reinforces their status as one of the nation's elite teams and provides a strong start to their ACC campaign. The balanced offensive effort and timely defensive stops showcased the Orange's depth and resilience in a closely contested conference matchup.