Syracuse delivered a statement win on April 5th, 2025, defeating No. 5 Notre Dame 14-9 in front of 11,268 fans. The victory not only snapped the Orange’s seven-game losing streak to the Irish but also set the stage for both teams as they look toward Memorial Day weekend and potential NCAA tournament glory.
The game began with Notre Dame quickly taking a 3-0 lead, thanks to goals from freshman Matt Jeffery and grad student Devon McLane. But Syracuse, behind strong defense and goalie Jimmy McCool’s 10 saves, quickly regained control. Over a span of nearly 40 minutes, the Orange defense shut down the Irish attack, keeping them scoreless for almost the entire second and third quarters.
Offensively, Syracuse gradually worked their way back. Freshman Payton Anderson opened the scoring for the Orange, and soon after, Owen Hiltz’s assist to Sam English tied the game. By the third quarter, Joey Spallina took over, scoring two quick goals to put Syracuse ahead for good.
Spallina, who has faced criticism for underperforming in high-pressure games, led all scorers with four goals and an assist. Hiltz finished with two goals and two assists, while Anderson contributed a goal and two assists. Michael Leo, Wyatt Hottle, and English each chipped in with two goals, and John Mullen dominated the face-off circle, winning 16-of-23 draws.
Notre Dame fought back, with Chris Kavanagh leading the charge with two goals and two assists. The Irish managed to cut the lead to three early in the fourth quarter, but Syracuse answered with goals from Leo and Spallina to effectively seal the victory. Max Busenkell added a late consolation goal for Notre Dame, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.
Both teams now turn their attention to Memorial Day weekend, when the NCAA tournament will be in full swing. Syracuse’s win boosts their confidence as they look to build momentum, while Notre Dame will need to regroup ahead of their final regular-season games and the looming tournament.
Syracuse’s defense, which stifled the No. 1-ranked offense in the country, was the key to victory. They forced Notre Dame to convert on just 26.4% of their possessions, well below their typical efficiency. With the win, Syracuse solidifies its place among the elite teams as they both prepare for a postseason run that could culminate in championship glory.
