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The chatter about Cornell traveling to Syracuse was loud in the week leading up to the Big Red’s NCAA first-round matchup with the Orange in the Carrier Dome.

Critics argued that the Big Red should have had the honor of hosting a first-round game. Cornell had beaten Syracuse 13-8 at the Carrier Dome on April 10. It had taken down Yale to win the Ivy League championship game, while Syracuse had lost in the ACC semifinals.

Regardless of how they felt about it, the Big Red headed to Syracuse with a chance to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. The best way Cornell could make its case was to simply beat Syracuse once again.

And that’s just what it did. Interim head coach Peter Milliman and his team overcome an early deficit — and the fact that Syracuse elected to do as others have in shutting star attackman Jeff Teat out of the offense — to down the Orange 10-9 at the Carrier Dome. 

With Jeff Teat unable to garner his normal share of the Cornell offense, it was teammate Clarke Petterson that stepped up in his place. Petterson tied a career-high with five goals to lead the way for the Big Red. 

Cornell and Syracuse went back-and-forth for three goals a piece in the first quarter. However, the Orange rallied for three straight goals in the second quarter, including two from Jamie Trimboli. Petterson and Jake McCulloch scored for Cornell to cut the deficit to 7-5 at halftime. 

That same duo added goals in the third quarter to pull Cornell even at 7-7 with Syracuse. The Orange regained the lead on a Brendan Curry goal, but Petterson tied it again with three seconds left in the third quarter and gave Cornell the 9-8 lead with 11:47 left. 

But Syracuse wasn’t done. Brendan Bomberry scored his second goal to tie the game with 9:05 left. The teams traded opportunities until Colton Rupp fired home what would be the game-winner with 5:35 remaining. 

The Orange had multiple opportunities to find the tying goal, but Big Red goalie Christian Knight made two big saves in the final minutes to preserve the lead. Knight finished with eight saves on the game.

Despite losing the faceoff battle 16-6, Cornell was able to take advantage with 22 shots on goal and a 3-for-4 on the EMO.

Cornell advance to meet the top seed Maryland, which escaped a test from Robert Morris to make the quarters.

Denver Tops Notre Dame in Rematch

It was a different dynamic than when Denver and Notre Dame last met in the NCAA tournament — a 16-4 blowout won by the Pioneers in last year’s NCAA quarterfinals. 

Both the Pioneers and Irish are different teams since then. Each has also grown since Notre Dame’s 11-9 win over Denver on March 10 in what was the Irish's chance to get revenge.

Entering Sunday’s NCAA First Round rematch, the Irish were one of the hottest teams in the country, using a healthy Brian Costabile and Mikey Wynne to take the ACC title. As for Denver, it ended the regular season on a sour note, being held to three goals in a Big East title game loss to Georgetown.

Momentum was in the favor of Notre Dame entering Sunday, but Denver paid no mind. The Pioneers got six points (3G, 3A) from Austin French and held the Irish offense in check down the stretch to pick up the 9-7 victory and advance to their seventh NCAA quarterfinal in the past eight years.

In doing so, Denver snapped Notre Dame’s streak of eight consecutive trips to the quarterfinals. 

Tewaaraton finalist Trevor Baptiste won 14 of 20 faceoffs and Ethan Walker recorded a hat trick for the Denver effort. Walker scored twice in the first half, helping the Pioneers jump out to a 4-1 lead early. Ryder Garnsey picked up two second-quarter goals to pull Notre Dame back within 5-3 at halftime.

Notre Dame seized the momentum out of halftime at home, scoring three out of four goals to jump into the lead for the first time. Costabile, Garnsey and Wynne scored in the run that extended into the fourth quarter and the Irish a 7-6 lead with 11:38 left.

The lead didn’t last long, as Baptiste turned in two of his biggest faceoff wins this season — both of which translated into Denver goals, one from French and the other from Walker. Within two minutes, Denver took the lead back at 8-7. 

Notre Dame put the pressure on the Denver defense with just over five minutes remaining, but couldn’t get past goalie Alex Ready, Instead, it was Colton Jackson cashing in on a ground ball and making it 9-7 with 4:04 left. 

The Pioneers remained strong in the back through the final minutes, helping clinch the victory and advance to meet No. 2 seed Albany in the quarterfinals. Ready finished with a season-high 10 saves.

The storyline is already being hyped. Trevor Baptiste against TD Ierlan — a gift for all lacrosse fans next weekend.

Johns Hopkins Rallies at Homewood

Johns Hopkins found itself down 8-3 in the third quarter against a Georgetown team that had all the momentum. Then, Kyle Marr took over. He scored five straight goals to lead the Blue Jays all the back and force overtime. Shack Stanwick provided the game-winner for Johns Hopkins to advance to meet No. 4 Duke. Read more about the big comeback.

Maryland Survives a Test from RMU

Maryland trailed 6-3 at halftime in College Park, but unleashed its offense on Robert Morris in an 11-goal second half to get past a stingy play-in winner and advance with a 14-11 victory. The Terps' offense found it mojo just in time.

NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S TOURNAMENT SCORES

No. 1 Maryland 14, Robert Morris 11
No. 5 Johns Hopkins 10, Georgetown 9 (OT)
Denver 9, No. 7 Notre Dame 7
Cornell 10, No. 8 Syracuse 9